noun
C1
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rustle
RUH-suhl
Rustle (noun) means a soft, dry crackling sound, like leaves or paper moving. Example: “She heard a rustle in the bushes and froze.”
noun
1
A soft, dry crackling sound, like leaves or paper moving.
"She heard a rustle in the bushes and froze."
"The only sound was the rustle of the wind through the wheat field."
verb
1
To make or move with this soft crackling sound.
"The pages rustled as the wind blew through the open window."
2
To steal livestock, especially cattle.
"The gang was caught trying to rustle cattle from the neighboring ranch."
How to use rustle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft crackly sound like dry leaves, or (informally) stealing cattle.
Common mistake
"Rustle up" (as in "rustle up some dinner") means to quickly gather or prepare something — a separate idiom from the sound or the cattle theft.
Common pairings
rustle of leaves
rustle up
cattle rustling
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Word forms
- Plural
- rustles
- Third person singular
- rustles
- Past tense
- rustled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She heard a _____ in the bushes and froze.
Etymology
From Middle English rustelen, likely echoing the sound itself — a word built to imitate the noise it describes.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for rustle
See all rhymes for rustle →Frequently asked questions
What does “rustle” mean?
The word “rustle” means a soft, dry crackling sound, like leaves or paper moving. In plain terms, a soft crackly sound like dry leaves, or (informally) stealing cattle.
How do you pronounce “rustle”?
“Rustle” is pronounced RUH-suhl (/ˈɹʌsəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “rustle” in a sentence?
Here is “rustle” used in a sentence: “She heard a rustle in the bushes and froze.”
What part of speech is “rustle”?
Depending on how it is used, “rustle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “rustle” come from?
The word “rustle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English rustelen, likely echoing the sound itself — a word built to imitate the noise it describes.
How many meanings does “rustle” have?
“Rustle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, dry crackling sound, like leaves or paper moving.
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