busywork
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of busywork
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.
Meanwhile, human roles will become less specialized, and more cross-functional, working in more nimble “squads” to oversee the AI’s busywork.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 21, 2026
After all, what Melania Trump really needs is busywork.
From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2026
If we kill busywork, we risk forfeiting the epiphanies that sometimes occur while doing easy, repetitive tasks.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 14, 2026
But when you’re occupied by that idle busywork, it’s easy enough to convince yourself it matters.
From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2025
Principal Marshall looked up from all his busywork.
From "Ghost" by Jason Reynolds
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.
