bustle

¹ American  

[buhs-uhl] / ˈbʌs əl /

verb (used without object)

bustles, present (3rd person singular) bustled, past participle, past bustling present participle

1. to move or act with a great show of energy (often followed byabout ).

   He bustled about cooking breakfast.

2. to abound or teem with something; display an abundance of something (often followed bywith ).

   The office bustled with people and activity.

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verb (used with object)

bustles, present (3rd person singular) bustled, past participle, past bustling present participle

1. to cause to bustle; hustle.

noun

1. thriving or energetic activity; stir; ferment.

   Synonyms:

   fuss, agitation, flurry, ado, teem, overflow, brim

bustle ² American  

[buhs-uhl] / ˈbʌs əl /

noun

1. fullness around or below the waist of a dress, as added by a peplum, bows, ruffles, etc.

2. a pad, cushion, or framework formerly worn under the back of a woman's skirt to expand, support, and display the full cut and drape of a dress.

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bustle ¹ British  

/ ˈbʌsəl /

verb

1. to hurry or cause to hurry with a great show of energy or activity

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noun

1. energetic and noisy activity

bustle ² British  

/ ˈbʌsəl /

noun

1. a cushion or a metal or whalebone framework worn by women in the late 19th century at the back below the waist in order to expand the skirt

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• bustled
  adjective
• bustling
  adjective
• bustler
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have bustled
  perfect
• has bustled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been bustling
  perfect progressive
• are bustling
  progressive
• is bustling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• bustles
  singular 3rd person
• has been bustling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am bustling
  progressive 1st person singular
• bustling
  participle

Past

• had bustled
  perfect
• were bustling
  progressive plural
• was bustling
  progressive singular
• had been bustling
  perfect progressive
• bustled
  participle
• bustled
  simple

Future

• will bustle
  simple
• will have bustled
  perfect
• will be bustling
  progressive
• will have been bustling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of bustle¹

First recorded in 1615–25; Middle English bustelen “to hurry aimlessly along,” perhaps akin to Old Norse busla “to splash about, bustle”

Origin of bustle²

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain

Explanation

A flurry of activity and commotion is often referred to as bustle. If you want to see true bustle in action, just walk through Times Square in New York during lunch hour. If it's busy, energetic or moving about at a rapid pace, then it's bustling. Word historians think bustle might stem from an Old Norse word meaning "to prepare." However, it's probably easier to remember bustle by the synonym it's often used with — hustle, as in "the hustle and bustle of a big city."

Example Sentences

As Stause announced her exit to Bustle, she discussed her issues with other members of the “Selling Sunset” circle, namely co-star Emma Hernan and her boyfriend, Blake Davis.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

Netflix did not comment to Bustle about Stause’s comments, but she wished the “Selling” franchise well in its future installments.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2025

However, on Good Morning America, Richie confirmed "it was not a full-on reboot," according to Jake Viswanath at Bustle.

From Salon • Aug. 12, 2024

Tiffany Reid, senior vice president of fashion editorial and special projects for Bustle, The Zoe Report, Nylon and more, lauded the Balmain look of Tyla as a great example of the theme done right.

From Seattle Times • May 7, 2024

Here we heard detail of our Commission: The Parliamentary Army, it was known, graze a great Bustle of Livestock on the Grasses of Hog & Noddle’s Islands.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• commotion
• hubbub
• tumult