rustle

American  

[ruhs-uhl] / ˈrʌs əl /

verb (used without object)

• rustles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rustled,
  past participle,  past
• rustling
  present participle

1. to make a succession of slight, soft sounds, as of parts rubbing gently one on another, as leaves, silks, or papers.

2. to cause such sounds by moving or stirring something.

3. to move, proceed, or work energetically.

   Rustle around and see what you can find.

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verb (used with object)

• rustles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• rustled,
  past participle,  past
• rustling
  present participle

1. to move or stir so as to cause a rustling sound.

   The wind rustled the leaves.

2. to move, bring, or get by energetic action.

   I'll go rustle some supper.

3. to steal (livestock, especially cattle).

noun

• rustles
  plural

1. the sound made by anything that rustles.

   the rustle of leaves.

verb phrase

1. rustle up to find, gather, or assemble by effort or search.

   to rustle up some wood for a fire.

rustle ¹ British  

/ ˈrʌsəl /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a low crisp whispering or rubbing sound, as of dry leaves or paper

2. to move with such a sound

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noun

1. such a sound or sounds

rustle ² British  

/ ˈrʌsəl /

verb

1. to steal (cattle, horses, etc)

2. informal to move swiftly and energetically

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rustling
  adjective
• unrustling
  adjective
• rustlingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• rustles
  plural

Participles

• rustling
  present
• rustled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• rustle
  simple
• rustles
  simple
• have rustled
  perfect
• has rustled
  perfect
• am rustling
  progressive
• are rustling
  progressive
• is rustling
  progressive
• have been rustling
  perfect progressive
• has been rustling
  perfect progressive

Past

• rustled
  simple
• had rustled
  perfect
• was rustling
  progressive
• were rustling
  progressive
• had been rustling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will rustle
  simple
• will have rustled
  perfect
• will be rustling
  progressive
• will have been rustling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of rustle

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb rustlen; compare Frisian russelje, Dutch ridselen; imitative of the sound

Explanation

A rustle can be the dry sounds made by papers rubbing together or leaves crackling. It can also be the act of searching, stealing, finding food, or making rustle sounds. Rustle has a whole lotta meanings! Walking home late at night, you hear a rustle behind you. Maybe it’s just leaves, but you’re spooked, so you rustle around in your knapsack, searching for a weapon. You turn, and it’s just a hungry friend, so you bring him home and rustle up some food from your cupboards. As your friend leaves, he rustles all your cows and takes them away.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rustle rustles rustled rustling

There was a rustle and a flash of black.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

Our ancestors whose attention drifted past the rustle in the grass left fewer descendants than those who froze, looked and listened.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 16, 2026

There is no rustle of pages or stacks of best-selling novels at the pop-up store opened by the Amazon subsidiary on the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

From Barron's ● May 2, 2026

Do labor leaders really think they can’t rustle up a quarter of their members to ensure the union preserves its role in representing workers?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026

Instead, I would hear the rustle of the leaves of the tamarind tree and the sound of the birds that nested there.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

The shadows and rustles of forests are natural fodder for fear, especially if you’re not used to them, but among those who know, the Appalachians are another beast entirely.

From National Geographic ● Oct. 13, 2023

A gentle wind rustles the pine trees that swaddle the health resort, described by one guidebook as “a perfect spot for a romantic evening.”

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 24, 2020

It rustles through the air, then softly lands against your chest, just as he planned.

From Slate ● May 30, 2020

It speaks, telling half the story with the noises that it makes, communicating in creaks, rustles, crackling, groans, footsteps and doors pounding.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2018

A gust of wind rustles, scratches pine needles, oak leaves.

From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Outside of the Huddleston family home, a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag rustled in the yard next to a DirecTV satellite dish.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

In the last row of his fields in southeastern France, the wind rustled through the brown leaves of vines that overheated during a blaze that swept the region this summer.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

And one, the veteran campaigner Graeme McCormick had rustled up enough supporters to force a leadership contest.

From BBC ● May 6, 2024

A warm breeze rustled through the dead palm trees.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2023

She rustled through the tissue pages of the Bible until she reached a certain passage and began reading, pronouncing the words aloud with painful concentration.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Mr. Griffin made his money rustling feral hogs to sell at market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Following a moment of silence, listening to the wind and rustling leaves, he says, “The sun is healing us.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2026

Wearing a thick navy jacket over a wool sweater, Ivannikov, the head of the department of tropical and subtropical plants, picked up a leaf that had just come rustling down.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

Sgt Day said the effects of sheep rustling were also "huge" for farmers.

From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2025

“What’s that rustling noise coming from your shirt?” asked Razi.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

Related Words

• whoosh