1
: fine particles of matter (as of earth)
2
: the particles into which something disintegrates
3
a
: something worthless
b
: a state of humiliation
4
a
: the earth especially as a place of burial
b
: the surface of the ground
5
a
: a cloud of dust
b
6
archaic
: a single particle (as of earth)
7
British
: refuse ready for collection
dusted; dusting; dusts
1
archaic
: to make dusty
2
: to make free of dust
dust the living room
3
a
: to sprinkle with fine particles
a cake dusted with sugar
b
: to sprinkle in the form of dust
4
: to throw a fastball close to (a batter) : brush back
—often used with off
5
: to defeat badly (as in a race)
1
of a bird
: to work dust into the feathers
2
: to remove dust
3
: to give off dust
Examples of dust in a Sentence
Noun
The floor was covered with dust.
You can see the dust particles floating through the air.
There is not a speck of dust in that house.
As the car sped down the dirt road, it left a cloud of dust behind.
He wiped the chalk dust off his hands.
Verb
I dust at least once a week.
Dust the pan with flour.
The crops will be dusted with pesticide.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Archer, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Clouds form when water vapor condenses around tiny particles like dust or salt.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 25 Apr. 2025
His high standards for the insides of the sandwich are a fair part of Angelo’s magic, but the real miracle is his bread: graceful torpedoes of flour and yeast and dough, the crust baked to a crisp, autumnal golden-brown and dusted with sesame seeds, the interior both soft and dense, sour and salty.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dust
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Noun
The optional speakers can run on battery power for up to eight hours (recharged via USB-C port), and are rated to IP54 dust and water resistance.
—John Archer, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Clouds form when water vapor condenses around tiny particles like dust or salt.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
The vacuum has a run time of 48 minutes and includes a short crevice tool and a small dusting brush.
—Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 25 Apr. 2025
His high standards for the insides of the sandwich are a fair part of Angelo’s magic, but the real miracle is his bread: graceful torpedoes of flour and yeast and dough, the crust baked to a crisp, autumnal golden-brown and dusted with sesame seeds, the interior both soft and dense, sour and salty.
—Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dust
Cite this Entry
“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dust. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dust
1 of 2 noun1
a
: fine dry powdery particles (as of earth)
b
: a fine powder
2
: the powdery remains of bodies once alive
3
: something worthless
4
: the surface of the ground
dust
2 of 2 verb1
: to make free of dust : brush or wipe away dust
dusted the living room
2
: to sprinkle with dust or as a dust
dust a pan with flour
dust insecticide on plants
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