bustle
1 Americanverb (used without object)
-
to move or act with a great show of energy (often followed byabout ).
He bustled about cooking breakfast.
-
to abound or teem with something; display an abundance of something (often followed bywith ).
The office bustled with people and activity.
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
-
fullness around or below the waist of a dress, as added by a peplum, bows, ruffles, etc.
-
a pad, cushion, or framework formerly worn under the back of a woman's skirt to expand, support, and display the full cut and drape of a dress.
verb
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
bustlesimple
-
bustlessimple
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have bustledperfect
-
has bustledperfect
-
am bustlingprogressive
-
are bustlingprogressive
-
is bustlingprogressive
-
have been bustlingperfect progressive
-
has been bustlingperfect progressive
Past
-
bustledsimple
-
had bustledperfect
-
was bustlingprogressive
-
were bustlingprogressive
-
had been bustlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of bustle1
First recorded in 1615–25; Middle English bustelen “to hurry aimlessly along,” perhaps akin to Old Norse busla “to splash about, bustle”
Origin of bustle2
First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain
Explanation
A flurry of activity and commotion is often referred to as bustle. If you want to see true bustle in action, just walk through Times Square in New York during lunch hour. If it's busy, energetic or moving about at a rapid pace, then it's bustling. Word historians think bustle might stem from an Old Norse word meaning "to prepare." However, it's probably easier to remember bustle by the synonym it's often used with — hustle, as in "the hustle and bustle of a big city."
Vocabulary lists containing bustle
"Seventh Grade" by Gary Soto
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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
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Pride
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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.
See Examples For:
The jokester revealed that he initially came across the pad when he was living in the hustle and bustle of New York City and wanted a peaceful getaway.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 16, 2026
But in the capital Porto-Novo, turnout for Sunday's vote ranged from 20 to 40 percent at some polling stations, while life in economic capital Cotonou was largely back to its usual bustle by Monday.
From Barron's ● Apr. 13, 2026
I live in the town and it's a great place to head back to after the bustle of a major.
From BBC ● Apr. 8, 2026
I know it’s time for a spring refresh when the bustle of holiday and winter cooking starts to linger.
From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2026
From the moment I met her in the hallway she'd been blabbing, so excited about the hustle and bustle she'd experienced earlier in the day.
From "Patina" by Jason Reynolds
The “underwater city” of a barrier reef bustles with activity, with vibrantly patterned fish darting busily between corals and sea sponges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
His charming, whimsical collection featured ruffled tutus, sculptured soft knits, peplum jackets, skirts with bustles and plenty of shearling fabric.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026
In his dim-lit studio, Zabtia oversees everything -- from lighting and sound to costumes -- as a small crew bustles about making his latest picture, "1986".
From Barron's ● Jan. 16, 2026
The bustles underpin the distinctive chemise à la reine that was popularized by fashion icon Marie Antoinette, with its cloud of white ruffles around a low neckline, sashed at the waist.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025
Mr. Waterman bustles in looking merry but harried, like Santa Claus on Christmas Eve just before the big ride.
From "Everything, Everything" by Nicola Yoon
Wall Street types in ironed white shirts bustled through the central station.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Inside, the staff spoke imperfect English, but all wore smiles on their faces as they bustled around the establishment, tending to their customers.
From Slate ● Mar. 12, 2026
On a Ganzhou street dubbed "Rare Earth Avenue", construction workers bustled to complete a sprawling new headquarters for one of those giants, China Rare Earth Group.
From Barron's ● Dec. 21, 2025
Military personnel bustled in and out, appearing to bring in supplies and fuel the plane.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025
People bustled in, talking and dropping bundles of belongings.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Female shoppers dominate the customer base of the normally bustling markets in Herat, Afghanistan's western commercial hub and one of its largest cities.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
On Friday morning, the cafe and tonic bar in the Manhattan Beach Erewhon was bustling with customers ordering smoothies, coffees and breakfast.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026
Despite the apparent location - Madison Square Garden in the middle of crowded, bustling Manhattan - the event remains mysterious: Will it really be Friday?
From BBC ● Jul. 2, 2026
However, some investors worry they will restrict the ability of China's bustling and sprawling tech ecosystem to access global markets.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
So he'd had to borrow money from his relatives to buy a train ticket from the seaport town of Stettin to the bustling big city of Berlin.
From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple
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.
