busy

American  

[biz-ee] / ˈbɪz i /

adjective

busier, busiest

1. actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime.

   busy with her work.

   Synonyms:

   hardworking, assiduous

   Antonyms:

   indolent

2. not at leisure; otherwise engaged.

   He couldn't see any visitors because he was busy.

   Synonyms:

   working, occupied

   Antonyms:

   unoccupied

3. full of or characterized by activity.

   a busy life.

4. (of a telephone line) in use by a party or parties and not immediately accessible.

5. officious; meddlesome; prying.

6. ornate, disparate, or clashing in design or colors; cluttered with small, unharmonious details; fussy.

   The rug is too busy for this room.

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verb (used with object)

busied, busying

1. to keep occupied; make or keep busy.

   In summer, he busied himself keeping the lawn in order.

busy British  

/ ˈbɪzɪ /

adjective

1. actively or fully engaged; occupied

2. crowded with or characterized by activity

   a busy day

3. (of a room, telephone line, etc) in use; engaged

4. overcrowded with detail

   a busy painting

5. meddlesome; inquisitive; prying

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verb

1. (tr) to make or keep (someone, esp oneself) busy; occupy

busy Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing busy

• get busy

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Related Words

Busy, diligent, industrious imply active or earnest effort to accomplish something, or a habitual attitude of such earnestness. Busy means actively employed, temporarily or habitually: a busy official. Diligent suggests earnest and constant effort or application, and usually connotes fondness for, or enjoyment of, what one is doing: a diligent student. Industrious often implies a habitual characteristic of steady and zealous application, often with a definite goal: an industrious clerk working for promotion.

Other Word Forms

• busyness noun
• nonbusy adjective
• overbusy adjective
• superbusy adjective
• unbusy adjective
• well-busied adjective

Etymology

Origin of busy

First recorded before 950; Middle English busi, bisi, Old English bysig, bisig; cognate with Middle Low German, Middle Dutch besich, Dutch bezig

Example Sentences

She said the trip felt more adventurous as they were away from busy roads and praised the friendly island community.

From BBC

"There's all sorts of things your brain is busy tracking when you're driving from memory, your brain's very active," Spiers said.

From BBC

Brook, who will have another busy schedule this summer as a multi-format England player, said he has already told Sunrisers he will not continue as captain.

From BBC

Gooey founder, Jake Ansbro said: "On gig days town is definitely busier - and we, along with many other hospitality businesses, are feeling the positive impact it's having on the city."

From BBC

I didn’t hear back immediately — hmmm, do you think they might be busy?

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• bustling
• full
• hectic
• lively
• restless