busy

[ biz-ee ]

adjective

, bus·i·er, bus·i·est.

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.

verb (used with object)

, bus·ied, bus·y·ing.

1. to keep occupied; make or keep busy:

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

busy

/ 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

verb

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

Derived Forms

• ˈbusyness, noun

Other Words From

• non·busy adjective
• over·busy adjective
• super·busy adjective
• un·busy adjective
• well-busied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of busy¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of busy¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

• get busy

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Bush busy engaging constituents on both sides of the same-sex marriage debate ahead of the 2004 presidential election.

From The Daily Beast

At some point during his busy schedule, Israel found the time to write a book, titled The Global War on Morris.

From The Daily Beast

If the world is going to end, why are evangelicals so busy trying to save it?

From The Daily Beast

He said it was okay, that he had been busy too… busy fighting serious intestinal problems.

From The Daily Beast

I finally called Lee a couple of times and we talked but he was busy with guests at the house.

From The Daily Beast

I was busy loading the piece when an exclamation of surprise from one of the men made me look up.

From Project Gutenberg

It will be a busy session; and I want to see if I can't become a useful public man.

From Project Gutenberg

In cases in which no attempt is made to ignore the accusation, the small wits are wont to be busy discovering exculpations.

From Project Gutenberg

And since he was too busy catching angleworms for himself to help her and her husband, she wished he would keep out of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

People are busy ballooning or driving; shooting like stars along railroads; or migrating like swallows or wild-geese.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bustling
• full
• hectic
• lively
• restless