astir

[ uh-stur ]

See synonyms for astir on Thesaurus.com

adjective

moving or stirring, especially with much activity or excitement: The field was astir with small animals, birds, and insects.
up and about; out of bed.

Origin of astir

before 1000; Middle English, Old English; see a-¹, stir¹

Words Nearby astir

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

How to use astir in a sentence

But more—he realised that the missing part of her was now astir, touched into life by another, and a younger, man.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
Everybody was astir early about the Norwood and Drew places in Roselawn that next morning.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn | Margaret Penrose
Something was astir somewhere, and before long the Esperanza's crew knew what was the matter.
The Chequers | James Runciman
When he awoke the smugglers were astir, and the women were bending over the fire, busy in preparing breakfast.
Digby Heathcote | W.H.G. Kingston
Monday morning dawned, and the great prison with its twelve hundred captives was again astir.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War | Various

British Dictionary definitions for astir

astir

/ (əˈstɜː) /

adjective(postpositive)

awake and out of bed
in motion; on the move

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

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