Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

rustling

  • present participle
    of rustle.
    rustle
    verb (used without object)
    to make a succession of slight, soft sounds, as of parts rubbing gently one on another, as leaves, silks, or papers.
  • a word derived from rustle.
    rustle
    verb (used without object)
    to make a succession of slight, soft sounds, as of parts rubbing gently one on another, as leaves, silks, or papers.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

McCamish pointed to a nearby stand of cottonwood trees rustling in the wind.

From Los Angeles Times May 17, 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

He says cattle rustling is a thing of the past but pays an annual fee of $62,000.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 24, 2025

Authorities were alerted to the men's live cargo when hotel staff, who had been asked to look after their luggage, noticed the suitcases making a "rustling noise", police told local media.

From BBC May 11, 2025

And a rustling, creeping, whispering sound took its place.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda