busy

[ biz-ee ]

See synonyms for busy on Thesaurus.com

adjective,bus·i·er, bus·i·est.

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.

verb (used with object),bus·ied, bus·y·ing.

to keep occupied; make or keep busy: In summer, he busied himself keeping the lawn in order.

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

synonym study For busy

1. 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 words for busy

1	assiduous, hardworking
2	employed, occupied, working

See synonyms for busy on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for busy

1	indolent
2	unoccupied

See antonyms for busy on Thesaurus.com

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

Words Nearby busy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use busy in a sentence

Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails | Jackie Kucinich | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
At some point during his busy schedule, Israel found the time to write a book, titled The Global War on Morris.
Powerful Congressman Writes About ‘Fleshy Breasts’ | Asawin Suebsaeng | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
If the world is going to end, why are evangelicals so busy trying to save it?
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault | Jay Michaelson | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
He said it was okay, that he had been busy too… busy fighting serious intestinal problems.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
I finally called Lee a couple of times and we talked but he was busy with guests at the house.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile | Robert Ward | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST

I was busy loading the piece when an exclamation of surprise from one of the men made me look up.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. | Various
It will be a busy session; and I want to see if I can't become a useful public man.
Elster's Folly | Mrs. Henry Wood
In cases in which no attempt is made to ignore the accusation, the small wits are wont to be busy discovering exculpations.
Children's Ways | James Sully
And since he was too busy catching angleworms for himself to help her and her husband, she wished he would keep out of sight.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole | Arthur Scott Bailey
People are busy ballooning or driving; shooting like stars along railroads; or migrating like swallows or wild-geese.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV. | Various

British Dictionary definitions for busy

busy

/ (ˈbɪzɪ) /

adjectivebusier or busiest

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

verbbusies, busying or busied

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

Origin of busy

Old English bisig; related to Middle Dutch besich, perhaps to Latin festīnāre to hurry

Derived 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

busy

In addition to the idioms beginning with busy

busy as a beaver
busy work

also see:

get busy

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