busy
actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime: busy with her work.
not at leisure; otherwise engaged: He couldn't see any visitors because he was busy.
full of or characterized by activity: a busy life.
(of a telephone line) in use by a party or parties and not immediately accessible.
officious; meddlesome; prying.
ornate, disparate, or clashing in design or colors; cluttered with small, unharmonious details; fussy: The rug is too busy for this room.
to keep occupied; make or keep busy: In summer, he busied himself keeping the lawn in order.
Origin of busy
1synonym study For busy
Other words for busy
1 | assiduous, hardworking |
2 | employed, occupied, working |
Opposites for busy
Other words from busy
- non·bus·y, adjective
- o·ver·bus·y, adjective
- su·per·bus·y, adjective
- un·bus·y, adjective
- well-busied, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use busy in a sentence
And the cameras on the busier streets would show hundreds of people going past.
On busier roads, elderly, scarved women sat by piles of potatoes and onions hoping forlornly for a sale.
As the Key Battle Looms, a Report from Ukraine's Front Lines | Jamie Dettmer | August 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIn edging past that mark, the latest PMI suggests that Chinese factories are getting busier, but only just.
And its employees are likely to be busier in the coming months.
Nevertheless, Daum eventually got antsy for something slightly busier.
Never was there a busier existence, or one apparently more evenly occupied.
Sir Walter Ralegh | William StebbingBut the islands had drawn closer since morning and the birds seemed busier than usual and more clamorous.
The Beach of Dreams | H. De Vere StacpooleIt was observed on the eve preceding the 1st November, when witches were supposed to be busier than usual.
The Mysteries of All Nations | James GrantWe were busier than usual that night, reckoning stores, tidying lockers, and securing movables.
The Riddle of the Sands | Erskine ChildersNo tire-woman on the plantation was busier than Patty during the first few days of his stay.
Richard Carvel, Complete | Winston Churchill
British Dictionary definitions for busy
/ (ˈbɪzɪ) /
actively or fully engaged; occupied
crowded with or characterized by activity: a busy day
mainly US and Canadian (of a room, telephone line, etc) in use; engaged
overcrowded with detail: a busy painting
meddlesome; inquisitive; prying
(tr) to make or keep (someone, esp oneself) busy; occupy
Origin of busy
1Derived forms of busy
- busyness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with busy
In addition to the idioms beginning with busy
- busy as a beaver
- busy work
also see:
- get busy
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse