rustle

1 of 2

verb

rus·​tle ˈrə-səl 

rustled; rustling ˈrə-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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

b

: forage

3

: to steal (livestock) especially from a farm or ranch

rustle

2 of 2

noun

: a quick succession or confusion of small sounds

Synonyms

Verb

• browse
• forage
• graze
• pasture

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

Verb

What to Listen For: The wind rustling through the aspen leaves at higher elevations is a delightful sound. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2025

Quaking aspens are known for their display of fluttering, rustling leaves in the lightest of breezes. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2025

Noun

Any time a leaf rustles in the outfield, the AI picks it up. —John Werner, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

There are footsteps and rustles — is that a door closing? —Amelia Nierenberg, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English rustelen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1624, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rustle

• rustle up

Rhymes for rustle

• bustle
• hustle
• muscle
• mussel
• russel
• trussell
• tussle
• mofussil

Kids 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

rustler

ˈrəs-(ə-)lər 

noun

rustle

2 of 2 noun

: a quick series of small sounds

the rustle of leaves