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
Synonyms
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
Scott Dance, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
The Shark Navigator is another impressive option for pet owners, while the Black+Decker stick picks up 25 percent more dust and debris on carpets.
—Megan Schaltegger, Peoplemag, 1 July 2024
Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
Live parrots screeched from a canopy of greenery, and simulated thunderstorms dusted the dining hall with clouds of mist.
—Zachary Crockett, thehustle.co, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for dust 
Noun
That’s because relatively cool waters, an abundance of Saharan dust or dry air all tend to limit early-season storm activity anywhere east of the longitude of places such as the Bahamas, Cuba and Jamaica, Klotzbach said.
—Scott Dance, Washington Post, 2 July 2024
The Shark Navigator is another impressive option for pet owners, while the Black+Decker stick picks up 25 percent more dust and debris on carpets.
—Megan Schaltegger, Peoplemag, 1 July 2024
Verb
Across Tennessee, Ohio, Virginia, Maryland, New York and New Jersey, entire school districts canceled classes as the latest winter storm dusts the Midwest and eastern U.S. in several inches of snow.
—Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 25 June 2024
Live parrots screeched from a canopy of greenery, and simulated thunderstorms dusted the dining hall with clouds of mist.
—Zachary Crockett, thehustle.co, 7 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for dust
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dust.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near dust
Cite this Entry
“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dust. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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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