# rustle

/ˈɹəsəɫ/ (US) · /ɹˈʌsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/rustle
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to make a soft sound

verb · CEFR B2

to make a soft, dry sound while moving, like paper or leaves.

For teachers: to move or cause to move with a soft, crackling sound, typically produced by the friction of dry materials like leaves, silk, or paper.

- The dry leaves rustled under my feet as I walked through the park.
- The wind rustled the heavy silk curtains, creating a gentle sound that filled the otherwise silent library.

Usage: Often used as an ergative verb, where the subject can be the thing moving or the person causing the movement.

### 2. to steal livestock

verb · CEFR C1 · American English

to steal farm animals like cows or horses.

For teachers: to steal livestock, particularly cattle, horses, or sheep, from a farm or ranch.

- In the old movies, outlaws would often rustle cattle from the local ranches.
- The gang was notorious for their ability to rustle hundreds of head of cattle across the border without being detected by the authorities.

Usage: This sense is transitive and almost exclusively applied to livestock.

### 3. to prepare quickly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

to quickly find or prepare something, especially food.

For teachers: to produce, prepare, or collect something quickly and energetically; usually followed by 'up'.

- Give me ten minutes and I can rustle up some eggs for breakfast.
- Despite the late hour, the host managed to rustle up a decent meal for the unexpected guests using only what was in the pantry.

Usage: Commonly functions as a phrasal verb 'rustle up'.

### 4. a soft sound

noun · CEFR B2

a soft, dry sound made by things rubbing together.

For teachers: a light, soft sound of things gently rubbing together.

- I heard a rustle in the bushes and wondered if it was a small animal.
- The only sound in the room was the faint rustle of pages as the students worked through their exam papers.

## Examples

- I heard a rustle in the bushes behind me.
- The dry leaves made a loud rustle as the wind pushed them across the forest floor.
- A sudden rustle in the undergrowth suggested that a small animal had just passed through, though the thick fog prevented any clear sight of the creature.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.