abuzz

American  

[uh-buhz] / əˈbʌz /

adjective

1. buzzing.

2. full of or alive with activity, talk, etc..

   The company was abuzz with rumors about the new owner.

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abuzz British  

/ əˈbʌz /

adjective

1. (postpositive) humming, as with conversation, activity, etc; buzzing

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Etymology

Origin of abuzz

First recorded in 1855–60; a- ¹ + buzz

Explanation

If a room is abuzz, it's full of noise and chatter. An elementary school classroom is bound to be abuzz on the last day of school before summer. When a place is abuzz, it's bustling with activity and sounds, humming in a way that resembles the buzzing of bees. The whole town might be abuzz with excitement about a movie being filmed there, or your house could be abuzz with excited children during a birthday party. Charles Dickens is credited with the first written use of this adjective, in his 1859 novel "A Tale of Two Cities."

Example Sentences

Appeared in the April 8, 2026, print edition as 'Investors Abuzz on Combining Tesla, SpaceX'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Abuzz with plans, “He was happier than I’d ever seen him,” Caputo said.

From Seattle Times • May 30, 2022

The tough part is rating the experts' answers, as all but Abuzz and Askanexpert encourage.

From Time Magazine Archive

My most pressing question, about how to revive a wilting African violet before it went to plant heaven, got no responses, even though I posted it on Abuzz, Xpertsite and Expertcentral.

From Time Magazine Archive