rustle

rustle — verb

1. to make a soft light brushing sound, like the noise of dry leaves, paper, or fab

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to make a soft light brushing sound, like the noise of dry leaves, paper, or fabric rubbing together when they move.

Example

The dry leaves rustled under Bilal's feet as he walked through the park.

intransitive: leaves as subject

The wind rustled the pages of the notebook on the wooden desk.

transitive: wind rustles object

Common collocations
  • leaves rustle
  • paper rustles
  • curtains rustle
  • rustle in the wind
  • rustle underfoot
  • rustle gently
  • rustle softly
Synonyms
  • crackle

    sharper and more brittle than rustle, like thin ice breaking or a fire starting

  • swish

    smoother and more continuous than rustle, like a broom on a floor

  • whisper

    softer and breathier, often poetic; associated with wind through grass or human speech

Antonyms
  • silence

    complete absence of any sound

Grammar Patterns

rustle (no object): leaves/paper rustle

rustle + noun phrase: wind rustles the leaves

Usage Note

Subject is typically something light and dry such as leaves, paper, or fabric. The verb works both transitively (someone rustles something) and intransitively (something rustles).

Common Mistakes

The leaves whispered in the wind.' (when describing the sound of dry movement).
The leaves rustled in the wind.
'whisper' is for human speech or breathy wind sounds; 'rustle' is the specific dry sound of paper or leaves brushing together.

2. to secretly take farm animals such as cattle, horses, or sheep that belong to so

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to secretly take farm animals such as cattle, horses, or sheep that belong to someone else.

Example

The gang was caught trying to rustle cattle from a ranch in Texas at night.

passive: be caught + rustling

In the old Western films, outlaws often tried to rustle horses from local farms.

Common collocations
  • rustle cattle
  • rustle horses
  • rustle sheep
  • cattle rustling
Synonyms
  • steal

    general term for taking something without permission; not restricted to animals

  • poach

    to illegally hunt or catch wildlife (not domestic livestock)

  • thieve

    formal or literary term for stealing; no restriction to farm animals

Grammar Patterns

rustle + noun phrase: rustle cattle/horses/sheep

Usage Note

This sense is restricted to the theft of livestock in rural or agricultural settings. A person who commits this crime is called a 'rustler'. This meaning has a different historical origin from the sound-related sense.

Common Mistakes

He rustled some money from my bag.' (using 'rustle' for general theft).
The thieves rustled cattle from the ranch.
'rustle' in this sense only applies to farm animals, not to general stealing.
Phrasal verbs

rustle up

phrasal verb

To quickly prepare or find something, especially food or a meal, often using whatever is available.

Maya rustled up a quick dinner from leftovers in the fridge.

Can you rustle up some snacks for the guests before they arrive?

rustle — noun

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These four verbs all describe soft sounds made by objects moving, but each has a distinct quality. Rustle is the light brushing sound of dry leaves, paper, or fabric rubbing together — it suggests many small contacts at once. Crackle is sharper and more brittle, like thin ice breaking or a fire beginning. Swish is smoother and more continuous, like a broom sweeping across a floor or a long skirt brushing against itself. Whisper is the softest and most breathy, often carrying a secretive or poetic tone — it suits wind through grass or a quiet voice, not dry materials. For example: 'The dry leaves rustled underfoot.' 'The fire crackled in the fireplace.' 'Her dress swished as she crossed the room.' 'The wind whispered through the tall grass.'

rustle ↗crackleswishwhisper ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • rustle of leaves
  • rustle of paper
  • rustle of fabric

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Rustle comes from an Old English word 'hrūstle' meaning 'to crackle,' which imitates the very sound it describes — it is an onomatopoeic word. The sense of 'stealing farm animals' appeared much later, in the 1700s, and may come from a different source, possibly related to the old word 'hustle' meaning 'to move quickly or forcefully.' The two meanings of rustle are historically unrelated, even though they share the same spelling today.