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
Synonyms
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
Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
The Israeli army released a video showing blasts ripping through the village in the Marjayoun province, razing dozens of homes to dust.
—Sally Abou Aljoud, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Barbara Bellesi Zito, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
The cleaning tool also comes with plenty of helpful accessories, including a long crevice tool and dusting brush, which can be used by detaching the handheld vacuum from the cleaning stick to clean hard-to-reach areas like curtains, beds, and sofas.
—Melony Forcier, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dust 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
If another dino-killing asteroid struck Earth tomorrow, its immediate impact would be the least of our worries; famine would multiply the death toll many times over as dust clouds deprived crops of sunlight.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
The Israeli army released a video showing blasts ripping through the village in the Marjayoun province, razing dozens of homes to dust.
—Sally Abou Aljoud, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
Few tasks in life seem as futile as dusting your home.
—Barbara Bellesi Zito, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
The cleaning tool also comes with plenty of helpful accessories, including a long crevice tool and dusting brush, which can be used by detaching the handheld vacuum from the cleaning stick to clean hard-to-reach areas like curtains, beds, and sofas.
—Melony Forcier, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dust
Dictionary Entries Near dust
Cite this Entry
“Dust.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dust. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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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