rustled; rustling
ˈrə-s(ə-)liŋ 
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
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
Jack McCallum
b
: forage
3
: to steal (livestock) especially from a farm or ranch
: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds
Examples of rustle in a Sentence
Verb
The trees rustled in the wind.
Her skirt rustled as she walked.
He rustled the papers on his desk.
Noun
He heard a rustle of leaves behind him.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
End your drive with a stay at Chinati Hot Springs, and soak in the steaming springwater beneath rustling cottonwoods and the glittering expanse of Texas stars.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
High in the hills near the Myanmar border, Ban Rak Thai greets the morning with the smell of oolong and the soft rustle of tea leaves.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rustle
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Verb
During the 1880s, the brothers lived here and made their livelihood rustling cattle and horses, while at the same time disposing of unsuspecting ranchers who wandered too close to their hideout.
—Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
End your drive with a stay at Chinati Hot Springs, and soak in the steaming springwater beneath rustling cottonwoods and the glittering expanse of Texas stars.
—Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
The manic tapping of stenos, the sounds of shuffling feet, and the rustles of discomfort in the room as the Chuschas rouse to defend one of their beloved leaders all contribute to a surreal, horror movie-like soundscape.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 31 Aug. 2025
High in the hills near the Myanmar border, Ban Rak Thai greets the morning with the smell of oolong and the soft rustle of tea leaves.
—Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rustle
Cite this Entry
“Rustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rustle. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rustle
1 of 2 verb
rus·tle
ˈrəs-əl
rustled; rustling
ˈrəs-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to make or cause to make a rustle
2
: to act or move with energy
3
: to steal (as cattle) from the range
rustle
2 of 2 noun
: a quick series of small sounds
the rustle of leaves
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