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
Synonyms
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
Wilson H. Stover, Outdoor Life, 5 Dec. 2024
This theme runs through many of his novels, which look back on pivotal points when the winds of change, however subtle, could be felt rustling through rural communities.
—Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2024
Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024
Walking to our room and listening to the leaves rustle in the breeze was its own form of therapy.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rustle 
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Verb
Down in the garden, dead cornstalks made a pleasant rattling sound in the cold wind, for all the world like the dry rushes of a duck blind rustling in the darkness of an overcast November morning.
—Wilson H. Stover, Outdoor Life, 5 Dec. 2024
This theme runs through many of his novels, which look back on pivotal points when the winds of change, however subtle, could be felt rustling through rural communities.
—Heller McAlpin, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Nov. 2024
Noun
Then, the leaves rustle and T.J. pops out of a trap door in the ground, Night of the Living Dead style.
—Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2024
Walking to our room and listening to the leaves rustle in the breeze was its own form of therapy.
—Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for rustle
Articles Related to rustle
Dictionary Entries Near rustle
Cite this Entry
“Rustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rustle. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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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