1
: fine particles of matter (as of earth)
2
: the particles into which something disintegrates
3
a
: something worthless
b
: a state of humiliation
4
a
: the earth especially as a place of burial
b
: the surface of the ground
5
a
: a cloud of dust
b
6
archaic
: a single particle (as of earth)
7
British
: refuse ready for collection
dusted; dusting; dusts
1
archaic
: to make dusty
2
: to make free of dust
dust the living room
3
a
: to sprinkle with fine particles
a cake dusted with sugar
b
: to sprinkle in the form of dust
4
: to throw a fastball close to (a batter) : brush back
—often used with off
5
: to defeat badly (as in a race)
1
of a bird
: to work dust into the feathers
2
: to remove dust
3
: to give off dust
Examples of dust in a Sentence
Noun
The floor was covered with dust.
You can see the dust particles floating through the air.
There is not a speck of dust in that house.
As the car sped down the dirt road, it left a cloud of dust behind.
He wiped the chalk dust off his hands.
Verb
I dust at least once a week.
Dust the pan with flour.
The crops will be dusted with pesticide.
Recent Examples on the Web
PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
Metro Phoenix faces about a 30% chance of storms during the evening of Aug. 22, along with gusty winds up to 35 mph and pockets of blowing dust.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Unplug the fan, wipe the exterior grates with a damp microfiber cloth or dusting mitt to remove dust, and—if the grills are removable—clean the blades and interior parts the same way before reassembling.
—Kendall Bettle, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dust
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Noun
For durability, the Pixel 10 Pro Fold is IP68 rated and can fully withstand dust and water.
—PC Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025
Metro Phoenix faces about a 30% chance of storms during the evening of Aug. 22, along with gusty winds up to 35 mph and pockets of blowing dust.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
To prevent having to deep clean your baseboards all the time, Matthews suggests dusting your baseboards regularly.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 23 Aug. 2025
Unplug the fan, wipe the exterior grates with a damp microfiber cloth or dusting mitt to remove dust, and—if the grills are removable—clean the blades and interior parts the same way before reassembling.
—Kendall Bettle, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dust
Cite this Entry
“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dust. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dust
1 of 2 noun1
a
: fine dry powdery particles (as of earth)
b
: a fine powder
2
: the powdery remains of bodies once alive
3
: something worthless
4
: the surface of the ground
dust
2 of 2 verb1
: to make free of dust : brush or wipe away dust
dusted the living room
2
: to sprinkle with dust or as a dust
dust a pan with flour
dust insecticide on plants
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