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
Joseph StrombergAdd pearl onions, mushrooms, and a dusting of marjoram.—Hali Ramdene
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
James PoniewozikExamples of dusting in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If needed, light vacuuming with a brush may work, but typically, professional cleaning is recommended (if at all) for anything beyond dusting.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025
Did the cameras catch the dusting of the sheet pans and the squeezing dry of the spinach?
—Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
The bourbon is rich and layered, featuring notes of cinnamon, clove, and toasted coconut followed by caramel, vanilla, and dark cherry, underpinned by toasted oak and a dusting of cocoa powder.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Key Points Teens are engaging in a dangerous trend known as 'dusting,' which involves inhaling chemicals from an aerosol duster or keyboard cleaner.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dusting
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 June 2025
Did the cameras catch the dusting of the sheet pans and the squeezing dry of the spinach?
—Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
The bourbon is rich and layered, featuring notes of cinnamon, clove, and toasted coconut followed by caramel, vanilla, and dark cherry, underpinned by toasted oak and a dusting of cocoa powder.
—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025
Key Points Teens are engaging in a dangerous trend known as 'dusting,' which involves inhaling chemicals from an aerosol duster or keyboard cleaner.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for dusting
Cite this Entry
“Dusting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusting. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share