busy

[ biz-ee ]

/ ˈbɪz i /

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See synonyms for: busy / busied / busier / busiest 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.

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

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of busy

before 1000; 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 FROM busy

non·bus·y, adjectiveo·ver·bus·y, adjectivesu·per·bus·y, adjectiveun·bus·y, adjective

well-busied, adjective

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

How to use busy in a sentence

And the cameras on the busier streets would show hundreds of people going past.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On busier roads, elderly, scarved women sat by piles of potatoes and onions hoping forlornly for a sale.
As the Key Battle Looms, a Report from Ukraine's Front Lines|Jamie Dettmer|August 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In edging past that mark, the latest PMI suggests that Chinese factories are getting busier, but only just.
Goodish News From China|David Frum|November 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And its employees are likely to be busier in the coming months.
Existing Home Sales Rise in July|Daniel Gross|August 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Nevertheless, Daum eventually got antsy for something slightly busier.
My Real Estate Obsession|Jacob Bernstein|May 12, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Never was there a busier existence, or one apparently more evenly occupied.
Sir Walter Ralegh|William Stebbing
But the islands had drawn closer since morning and the birds seemed busier than usual and more clamorous.
The Beach of Dreams|H. De Vere Stacpoole
It was observed on the eve preceding the 1st November, when witches were supposed to be busier than usual.
The Mysteries of All Nations|James Grant
We were busier than usual that night, reckoning stores, tidying lockers, and securing movables.
The Riddle of the Sands|Erskine Childers
No tire-woman on the plantation was busier than Patty during the first few days of his stay.
Richard Carvel, Complete|Winston Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for busy

busy

/ (ˈbɪzɪ) /

adjective busier or busiest

actively or fully engaged; occupied

crowded with or characterized by activitya busy day

mainly US and Canadian (of a room, telephone line, etc) in use; engaged

overcrowded with detaila busy painting

meddlesome; inquisitive; prying

verb busies, busying or busied

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

Derived forms of busy

busyness, noun

Word Origin for busy

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

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

busy

OTHER WORDS FOR busy

OPPOSITES FOR busy

Origin of busy

synonym study for busy

OTHER WORDS FROM busy

Words related to busy

How to use busy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for busy

Derived forms of busy

Word Origin for busy

Other Idioms and Phrases with busy