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 WebYannic Rack, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 July 2024
For example, Vermont limited turbine sound levels to 45 decibels at night – somewhere between rustling leaves and a household dishwasher.
—Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024
Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Book now with Alaskan Dream Cruises Float among hippos, elephants, and crocodiles
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana — Southern Africa Riverboat Safari with Natural Habitat Adventures
Fall asleep to the sound of hippos, wake up to the rustle of feeding elephants.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for rustle 
Verb
The Border Reivers thrived in this atmosphere, rustling cattle and other livestock across the Borders’ steep river valleys and rough open moors, and frequently fencing their goods farther south in England.
—Yannic Rack, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 July 2024
For example, Vermont limited turbine sound levels to 45 decibels at night – somewhere between rustling leaves and a household dishwasher.
—Karina Zaiets, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024
Noun
Alsop gently roused the piece — its rustle of chimes and bleary strings.
—Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 1 July 2024
Book now with Alaskan Dream Cruises Float among hippos, elephants, and crocodiles
Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Botswana — Southern Africa Riverboat Safari with Natural Habitat Adventures
Fall asleep to the sound of hippos, wake up to the rustle of feeding elephants.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2023
See all Example Sentences for rustle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rustle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Rustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rustle. Accessed 15 Jul. 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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