plural dustings
1
: the act of making something clean by brushing or wiping away dirt and dust from the surface
The furniture needs a good dusting.
2
a
: a small amount of something that falls or is sprinkled over a surface
During summer, the cracked floor looks prehistoric under the desert sun; during winter, it's intermittently covered by sheets of ice and dustings of snow.—
Joseph Stromberg
Joseph StrombergAdd pearl onions, mushrooms, and a dusting of marjoram.—Hali Ramdene
Hali Ramdene
b
: a faint or slight quality or amount
… sporting a dusting of stubble, DiSpirito runs Union Pacific, a paragon of gilded, inventive Manhattan dining.—James Poniewozik
James PoniewozikExamples of dusting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wide shovels work well for light, fluffy snow or dustings of snow.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
This TikTok favorite is intensely pigmented and stays put through whatever—no transfer, smudging, or dusting involved.
—Deanna Pai, Allure, 21 Feb. 2025
The operations of its removal and restoration began in January 2025, with the careful dusting of the linen canvas and the removal of its fleece backing, an addition from 1983.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
Pro tip: For an extra secure statement, an over-the-top dusting of loose powder can help to ensure your pout stays precise—even in severely damp conditions.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dusting
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Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025
This TikTok favorite is intensely pigmented and stays put through whatever—no transfer, smudging, or dusting involved.
—Deanna Pai, Allure, 21 Feb. 2025
The operations of its removal and restoration began in January 2025, with the careful dusting of the linen canvas and the removal of its fleece backing, an addition from 1983.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN, 20 Feb. 2025
Pro tip: For an extra secure statement, an over-the-top dusting of loose powder can help to ensure your pout stays precise—even in severely damp conditions.
—Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dusting
Cite this Entry
“Dusting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusting. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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