dusting

noun

dust·​ing ˈdə-stiŋ 

plural dustings

1

: the act of making something clean by brushing or wiping away dirt and dust from the surface

The furniture needs a good dusting.

2

a

: a small amount of something that falls or is sprinkled over a surface

During summer, the cracked floor looks prehistoric under the desert sun; during winter, it's intermittently covered by sheets of ice and dustings of snow.

—Joseph Stromberg

Add pearl onions, mushrooms, and a dusting of marjoram.

—Hali Ramdene

b

: a faint or slight quality or amount

… sporting a dusting of stubble, DiSpirito runs Union Pacific, a paragon of gilded, inventive Manhattan dining.

—James Poniewozik

Examples of dusting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Compressed air is a helpful tool for cleaning fans, especially ones that cannot be opened, but if your tower fan opens, opt for dusting, brushing, and vacuuming if possible. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025

Served hot with a dusting of nutmeg and espresso beans to garnish. —Aly Walansky, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025

Sofa cushions, pillows, and throws would be fluffed and tidied and nearly all surfaces would receive a quick dusting. —Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2025

Even a dusting of snow can stick to untreated surfaces because of the Arctic cold, which can create slick road conditions, Doug McNeal, head of maintenance for NCDOT’s Region 5, which includes Wake and Durham counties, previously told The News & Observer. —Martha Quillin, Charlotte Observer, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dusting

• busting
• crusting
• gusting
• lusting
• rusting
• thrusting
• trusting
• adjusting
• disgusting
• distrusting
• encrusting
• entrusting