rustle

verb rus·tle \ ˈrə-səl \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of rustle

rustled; rustling play \ˈrə-s(ə-)liŋ\

intransitive verb

1 : to make or cause a rustle

2 a : to act or move with energy or speed

b : to forage food

3 : to steal cattle

transitive verb

1 : to cause to rustle

2 a : to obtain by one's own exertions —often used with up

able to rustle up $5,000 bail
—Jack McCallum

b : forage

3 : to steal (livestock) especially from a farm or ranch

—

rustler

play \ˈrə-s(ə-)lər\ noun

See rustle defined for English-language learners

See rustle defined for kids

Examples of rustle in a Sentence

The trees rustled in the wind.
Her skirt rustled as she walked.
He rustled the papers on his desk.

Recent Examples of rustle from the Web

With the first notes of music from Star Wars, listeners physically rustled to life in their seats.

— peter dobrin, Philly.com, "Is John Williams the next Kendrik Lamar? His Philadelphia Orchestra visit made us think, why not?," 19 Apr. 2018
In one scene, a subway car breezes by, rustling Nixon’s famous red hair, before flashing to a shot of her onboard looking a little irked.

— noor brara, Vogue, "Why Winning New York May Come Down to Fixing the Subway," 20 Mar. 2018
Some high-profile correspondents are said to be rustling around for next year’s celebrity guests even as as this year’s tables are being cleared.

— timothy j. burger, Town & Country, "What's the Point of the White House Correspondents' Dinner if the President Doesn't Show Up?," 31 Mar. 2017
But too often in Krasinski’s movie, the human characters are rustling the cornstalks or knocking over this or that, and nothing comes of it.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'A Quiet Place' review: Hush, little family, don't say a word or the monsters will get you," 5 Apr. 2018
To help fill those seats, the country's tourism board has launched a digital campaign to rustle up support.

— kevin baxter, latimes.com, "Iceland would love your support during the World Cup," 27 Mar. 2018
The outlaw practice of rustling was harshly frowned upon, especially in Ohio.

— phillip morris, cleveland.com, "Be careful who you steal a car from in Greater Cleveland: Phillip Morris," 14 Mar. 2018
From behind us came a noise: a crackling, rustling, splitting, then a specific crunch-crunch-crunch.

— maggie o’farrell, New York Times, "It’s Us Against a Particle of Dust," 9 Mar. 2018
Other items inside the vehicle were rustled through.

— jim riccioli, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Manager reports topless girl swimming in hotel pool in Waukesha," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rustle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rustle

Middle English rustelen

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

rustle Synonyms

Phrases

beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it;

rustle

noun

Definition of rustle

: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds

See rustle defined for English-language learners

Examples of rustle in a Sentence

He heard a rustle of leaves behind him.

Recent Examples of rustle from the Web

Once there, Mulvihill and his neighbor heard a rustle in the bushes, saw the barrel of a gun and then the flash of gunfire.

— christine pelisek, PEOPLE.com, "Gun Instructor Who Tried to Kill Lover’s Husband: I Regret Cheating on My Wife More Than Shooting," 22 Mar. 2018
So the terrified engineer rustles everyone back and drags people in off the street to replace the original audience for a quick recreation.

— bill goodykoontz, azcentral, "'The Death of Stalin' is brilliant madness," 22 Mar. 2018
Poppy’s voice has the soothing affect of an A.S.M.R. video, those recordings of rustles and whispers capable of evoking tingling sensations on the back of your neck.

— amanda hess, New York Times, "The Rise of the Social Media Fembot," 4 Feb. 2018
Their relatives, wild animals like the coyote and the wolf, have upright ears that help sharpen their hearing, so any rustle of potential prey is heard.

— kelli bender, PEOPLE.com, "Why Do Some Dogs Have Floppy Ears? Listen Up: Science Has the Answer," 30 Jan. 2018
And the greatest of these is Christmas. *** Illustration: John Cuneo At Whiteoaks Christmas slipped in subliminally, with the faint rustle of a paperchain in September and the echo of a jingle bell as October turned.

— mick herron, WSJ, "Santa #9: A Christmas Short Story," 22 Dec. 2017
When a character, in desperation, vigorously runs his fingers through his hair, the soundtrack captures every tiny rustle and squeak.

— laura miller, Slate Magazine, "The Twin Peaks reboot is not the fusion of arthouse and mainstream sensibilities that viewers might expect. It’s pure David Lynch—and it’s glorious.," 22 May 2017
They are replaced with shrieks of blue jays and the white-noise rustle of the wind through the leaves.

— adrian higgins, idahostatesman, "Visiting an old-growth forest — in our nation’s capital," 25 Oct. 2017
What other secrets and characters will this show rustle up in the upcoming season?

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "Did You See This Riverdale Character's Memorable Return Coming?," 12 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of rustle

1624

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

RUSTLE Defined for English Language Learners

rustle

verb

Definition of rustle for English Language Learners

: to make a soft, light sound because parts of something are touching or rubbing against each other
: to cause (something) to make a soft, light sound
: to steal (animals) from a farm or ranch