rustle
Rustle (noun) means a soft, dry crackling sound, like leaves or paper moving. Example: “She heard a rustle in the bushes and froze.”
How to use rustle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft crackly sound like dry leaves, or (informally) stealing cattle.
"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.
Word forms
rustled past tense, rustles plural, rustles singular
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
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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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