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
Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
The dust bag in the base station has a 3-liter capacity.
—Loz Blain
september 20, New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2025
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Snow paints the eaves over us and dusts the clapboard under the window.
—Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dust
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show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Dust Bags Your nicest shoes and bags likely came inside of dust bags, which are always good to hold onto for down the line, according to Katia Basley.
—Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
The dust bag in the base station has a 3-liter capacity.
—Loz Blain
september 20, New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
Use a microfiber mop with a long handle to easily dust baseboards to prevent buildup.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2025
Snow paints the eaves over us and dusts the clapboard under the window.
—Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 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 23 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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