bustling
Americanadjective
-
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
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bustling
First recorded in 1425–75; bustl(e) 1 ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; bustl(e) 1 ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun sense
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.
The problem: The bay is one of the world’s most bustling shipping areas, plied by ferries, oil tankers, cargo vessels and cruise liners.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
In the 1920s, Art Deco buildings rose along Wilshire Boulevard as the street transformed from a remote dirt path into a bustling, car-oriented commercial district.
From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026
The neighborhood was bustling, filled with trendy restaurants, renovated hotels, nightclubs and luxury retailers.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
A relaunched Miami-Caracas flight after seven years of a standstill is paving the way for Venezuela to reclaim its status as a bustling aviation hub.
From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026
She'd seen maps of the floating Marvellian cities—the bustling canals of Astradam, the elegant streets of Celestian, the entertaining quarters of Betelmore—in Papa's office.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
