dusty
gb/dˈʌsti/ us/dˈʌsti/
A2
English
~ 6000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
covered with dust or powdery dirt
Having a lot of dry, fine dirt on it, or in the air around it.
Usage pattern:
[something] is dusty / dusty [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"full of dusts"* instead of *"dusty" or "full of dust". Use "dusty" to describe something that has a layer of dust on it: *"a dusty table," "dusty air."* Also, do not confuse the adjective "dusty" with the verb "to dust" (to remove dust).
Synonyms
dirty (More general; can include many kinds of dirt, not just dust.)
|
dust-covered (More explicit and slightly more formal, focuses only on dust on the surface.)
Antonyms
clean (Describes something with no dirt or dust on it.)
|
spotless (Stronger and more emphatic; completely free of dust or dirt.)
Collocations
dusty room
|dusty shelf
|dusty book
|dusty road
|dusty furniture
|dusty attic
Themes
home
|daily_life
|environment
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We opened the door to a small, dusty room that smelled of old paper.
- He wiped his hand across the dusty table and left a clear line.
- After the long drive along the country track, the car was completely dusty.
- Sunlight streamed through the window, showing the dusty air in the barn.
- The hikers followed a dusty road that led out into the desert.
Learner examples
- The shelves in my bedroom are very dusty.
- I cleaned the dusty floor with a wet cloth.
- We walked along a dusty road to the village.
- The old books in the library are dusty.
- Please close the window; the wind makes the room dusty.
adjective
B2
property
2
dull, dry, and uninteresting
Describes a subject, book, talk, etc. that is boring and not lively or fresh.
Usage pattern:
dusty [topic/style/lecture]
Common mistake:
Learners may think this always means something is literally covered in dust. In this sense, "dusty" is figurative: it describes style or feeling, not physical dirt. If you mean there is real dust, mention the object: *"a dusty room," "a dusty book."*
Synonyms
dull (Very close in meaning; general word for not interesting.)
|
dry (Often used for writing or talks that are too serious and not engaging.)
Antonyms
lively (Emphasizes being full of energy and interest, the opposite of a "dusty" style.)
|
engaging (Focuses on holding the listener’s or reader’s attention.)
Collocations
dusty lecture
|dusty textbook
|dusty academic style
|dusty old subject
|dusty museum display
Themes
education
|work
|culture
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The professor’s dusty lecture style made even exciting discoveries seem boring.
- They tried to modernize the museum and get rid of its dusty image.
- The report is full of dusty legal phrases that nobody uses anymore.
- She wanted to escape the dusty world of academic politics.
- The new teacher turned a dusty grammar topic into something fun and clear.
Learner examples
- The movie was long and dusty, so many people fell asleep.
- His writing is clear but a little dusty and not very fun to read.
- Students do not like the dusty old course book.
- The festival gave new life to a dusty subject: classical music.
- They updated the website to make it less dusty and more modern.
adjective
B2
property
3
old-fashioned and not modern
Describes ideas, rules, or things that are very old-style and do not fit modern life.
Usage pattern:
dusty [rules/image/tradition]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with simply being physically dirty. Here, "dusty" is metaphorical: it means old-fashioned. If you want to talk about style or ideas, words like "old-fashioned" or "outdated" are usually clearer for learners.
Synonyms
old-fashioned (Very close in meaning; more common and neutral.)
|
outdated (Stresses that something is no longer suitable or useful today.)
Antonyms
modern (Stresses being current and suited to today’s world.)
|
progressive (Highlights being open to new ideas and change, opposite of "dusty" attitudes.)
Collocations
dusty old rules
|dusty traditions
|dusty image
|dusty institution
|dusty reputation
Themes
society
|culture
|politics
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many people feel the company’s dusty old rules need to be rewritten.
- The party is trying to shake off its dusty image and appeal to younger voters.
- They replaced the dusty curriculum with more practical, up-to-date courses.
- Her fresh ideas clashed with the dusty traditions of the department.
- The museum is modern inside, despite its dusty reputation.
Learner examples
- The law is very dusty and needs to change.
- Young people do not like the dusty image of the club.
- He wants to break the dusty old rules of the school.
- The new leader will change the dusty system.
- They are trying to make the dusty tradition more modern.
adjective
C1
property
4
soft muted color with gray
Describes a color that is not bright, looks soft, and has a little gray in it.
Usage pattern:
dusty [color]
Common mistake:
Learners may think "dusty pink" means the dress is dirty. In fashion and design, "dusty" before a color usually describes the shade (soft, grayish), not actual dust. If you want to say something needs cleaning, use a different word order: *"a pink, dusty dress"* (first color, then condition).
Synonyms
muted (General word for colors that are soft and not bright; does not always suggest gray.)
|
soft (Very general; can describe gentle, not-strong colors.)
Antonyms
bright (Describes colors that are strong and intense, the opposite of "dusty" colors.)
|
vivid (Stresses very strong, clear color without gray.)
Collocations
dusty pink
|dusty blue
|dusty green
|dusty rose
|dusty color palette
Themes
colors
|fashion
|art
|arts_entertainment
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She chose a dress in a dusty pink that suited her skin tone.
- The living room walls are painted a gentle dusty blue.
- Designers are using dusty greens and browns to create a calm feeling.
- The artist preferred dusty colors rather than sharp, bright ones.
- A dusty rose cushion added a soft touch to the sofa.
Learner examples
- I like her dusty pink jacket.
- They painted the bedroom a dusty blue color.
- Dusty green looks nice in the living room.
- He bought a scarf in dusty rose.
- The picture has many dusty colors and looks calm.
adjective
slang
C1
property
5
uncool, lame (slang)
Slang for a person or thing that is not cool, not stylish, or not good.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] is dusty
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this slang meaning with the normal meaning "covered in dust." In slang, "dusty" is a judgment about style or social value, not physical cleanliness. This use is common in some online and youth communities but may sound rude or strange in formal situations.
Synonyms
lame (Very close in slang; informal term meaning not cool or not good.)
|
corny (Slang for something trying to be fun or romantic but is not cool.)
Antonyms
cool (Slang for fashionable, impressive, socially attractive.)
|
fire (Very slangy; means extremely good or impressive, opposite feeling of "dusty".)
Collocations
so dusty
|acting dusty
|you look dusty
|dusty behavior
Themes
slang
|youth_culture
|social_life
|relationships
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- That joke was so dusty; nobody even smiled.
- He called the outfit dusty and told his friend to change before the party.
- The comments section got dusty, so the moderator turned it off.
- They stopped playing that dusty old track at the club years ago.
- She said his attitude toward women was dusty and embarrassing.
Learner examples
- My younger brother says my music is dusty.
- They think this old game is dusty, but I still like it.
- He wore dusty shoes to the party, and his friends laughed.
- People online called the video dusty and boring.
- She said his style is dusty, not cool.
Grammar
Dictionary form
dusty
IPA
GB/dˈʌsti/
US/dˈʌsti/
Syllables & stress
dusty (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (dusty)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: dusty
- Comparative: dustier
- Superlative: dustiest
Word family
Forms
dustier
adjective
dustiest
adjective
Core family
dust
noun A2
Related words
duster
noun
Advanced or less common
dustiness
noun
Expressions
dusty blue
1/dˈʌsti blˈu/
fixed phrase
soft, grayish blue color
A soft blue color that is not bright and has a little gray in it.
Examples
- The bedroom walls are a calming dusty blue.
- He chose a dusty blue tie to match his suit.
dusty green
1/dˈʌsti ɡɹˈin/
fixed phrase
soft, grayish green color
A soft green color that is not bright and has a little gray in it.
Examples
- The designer suggested a dusty green for the kitchen cabinets.
- Dusty green works well with natural wood and white walls.
dusty pink
1/dˈʌsti pˈɪŋk/
fixed phrase
soft, grayish pink color
A soft pink color that is not bright and has a little gray in it.
Examples
- She painted the nursery a gentle dusty pink.
- Dusty pink is a popular color for bridesmaid dresses.