dusting

noun

dust·​ing ˈdə-stiŋ How to pronounce dusting (audio)
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
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Crispy pancetta and a poached egg paired with fresh herbs and a dusting of parmesan topped off the pasta dish, bringing a salty and fresh contrast to the rich sauce. Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Other ingredients include fresh lemon juice, egg whites and even a bit of Chinese five-spice bitters and a dusting of aspartame-free Li Hing Mui powder. Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Stir and top with shredded coconut or a dusting of matcha powder if desired. Morgan Pearson, Ms, Rd, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 2025 Cities such as Mobile, Alabama, and Pensacola, Florida, which only see a dusting of snow or less in an average year, were suddenly covered by layers of snow, leading to unprecedented disruptions. Jim Foerster, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dusting

Word History

First Known Use

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dusting was in 1681

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Cite this Entry

“Dusting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dusting. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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