bustling

[ buhs-ling ]

/ ˈbʌs lɪŋ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for bustling on Thesaurus.com

adjective

moving or acting with a great show of energy:I watched her preparing lunch in the kitchen—a compact, bustling woman of around forty with her hair in a tight bun.

abounding or teeming with people or activities that create an atmosphere of energy:This midwestern city is a bustling hub for business, education, recreation, and government.

noun

the act or habit of moving or doing something with a great show of energy:They were getting ready to leave again—it always happened in the middle of the night, with much bustling and scurrying about.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "WAS" VS. "WERE"!

Were you ready for a quiz on this topic? Well, here it is! See how well you can differentiate between the uses of "was" vs. "were" in this quiz.

Question 1 of 7

“Was” is used for the indicative past tense of “to be,” and “were” is only used for the subjunctive past tense.

true

false

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of bustling

bustl(e)¹ + -ing² for the adjective senses; bustl(e)¹ + -ing¹ for the noun sense

OTHER WORDS FROM bustling

bus·tling·ly, adverbun·bus·tling, adjective

Words nearby bustling

busticate, bustier, bustle, bustle pipe, bustline, bustling, Busto Arsizio, bust one's ass, bus topology, bust-up, busty

How to use bustling in a sentence

It was the Civil War that drove Leslie from his Cincinnati home to the bustling metropolis of New York City.
The High Society Bank Robber of the 1800s|J. North Conway|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We spent time in the bustling visitor center, then took a spin through the packed Civil War museum.
How Gettysburg Did Not Unlock the Past|Laird Hunt|September 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mandelbaum began her climb to the top of the crime world as a peddler on the rough-and-tumble, bustling streets of New York City.
Meet 'The Queen of Thieves' Marm Mandelbaum, New York City's First Mob Boss|J. North Conway|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Off the coast of Japan stands a crumbling, post-apocalyptic abandoned island that once held a bustling mining community.
Japan's James Bond Villain Ghost Town|Nina Strochlic|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

What was once one of 505 uninhabited islands in the region quickly became a bustling, crammed metropolis.
Japan's James Bond Villain Ghost Town|Nina Strochlic|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The huge engine, the wonderful carriages, the imposing guard, the busy porters and the bustling station.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
A gray-haired man with a bustling manner and wearing glasses came through the reception room and Mark stopped him.
The Campfire Girls of Roselawn|Margaret Penrose
When the Turks saw a destroyer come bustling up at an unusual hour they said to themselves, "fee faw fum!"
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
The streets, which are exclusively inhabited by Chinese, presented a very bustling aspect.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
The principal street presents a bustling appearance, being much frequented by carriages, as well as pedestrians.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer