bustle
1 Americanverb (used without object)
-
to move or act with a great show of energy (often followed byabout ).
He bustled about cooking breakfast.
-
to abound or teem with something; display an abundance of something (often followed bywith ).
The office bustled with people and activity.
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
-
fullness around or below the waist of a dress, as added by a peplum, bows, ruffles, etc.
-
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.
verb
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
bustlesimple
-
bustlessimple
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have bustledperfect
-
has bustledperfect
-
am bustlingprogressive
-
are bustlingprogressive
-
is bustlingprogressive
-
have been bustlingperfect progressive
-
has been bustlingperfect progressive
Past
-
bustledsimple
-
had bustledperfect
-
was bustlingprogressive
-
were bustlingprogressive
-
had been bustlingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing bustle
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
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Pride
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
They bustle through the doors after the long journey, sometimes bedecked in Route 66 merchandise, and sometimes buying Mel’s own brand of Route 66 merch while there.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
The jokester revealed that he initially came across the pad when he was living in the hustle and bustle of New York City and wanted a peaceful getaway.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 16, 2026
But in the capital Porto-Novo, turnout for Sunday's vote ranged from 20 to 40 percent at some polling stations, while life in economic capital Cotonou was largely back to its usual bustle by Monday.
From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026
It's a style he developed in the hustle and bustle of his busy Bronx home.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026
We continue past all the bustle and back toward the quiet research labs.
From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
The “underwater city” of a barrier reef bustles with activity, with vibrantly patterned fish darting busily between corals and sea sponges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
In his dim-lit studio, Zabtia oversees everything -- from lighting and sound to costumes -- as a small crew bustles about making his latest picture, "1986".
From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026
The bustles underpin the distinctive chemise à la reine that was popularized by fashion icon Marie Antoinette, with its cloud of white ruffles around a low neckline, sashed at the waist.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025
"It is about time," he says - momentarily stopping chopping fish as the kitchen behind bustles ahead of the lunchtime sittings.
From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2024
Oma bustles from the kitchen, carrying a teapot.
From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
“Abstract Body” delves into the corseted, bustled shapes women were subjected to in centuries past, while “Reclaimed Body” acknowledges wild new imperatives that reject inherited standards and mock the idea of one body type.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026
Inside, the staff spoke imperfect English, but all wore smiles on their faces as they bustled around the establishment, tending to their customers.
From Slate ● Mar. 12, 2026
The city's main market bustled on Friday afternoon as shoppers jostled through heavy traffic.
From Barron's ● Feb. 16, 2026
Military personnel bustled in and out, appearing to bring in supplies and fuel the plane.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025
She bustled back into her office, and Harry sank back into his pillows, fuming.
From "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by J.K. Rowling
The closures are poised to be a significant disruption to businesses and residents along the typically bustling section of West Hollywood.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Female shoppers dominate the customer base of the normally bustling markets in Herat, Afghanistan's western commercial hub and one of its largest cities.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
Many immigrants - and northern transplants - are now drawn to the south, especially the bustling economies of cities in Texas and Florida.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
A business expert said the UK had a "bustling side hustle culture", but that high-level success was "difficult to replicate".
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
A drive-in sits in the center of a huge clearing, the surrounding trees blocking out the town’s bustling sounds and creating the illusion that we’re far away.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
