View synonyms for bustling

bustling

[ buhs-ling ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

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.

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

It was the Civil War that drove Leslie from his Cincinnati home to the bustling metropolis of New York City.

We spent time in the bustling visitor center, then took a spin through the packed Civil War museum.

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.

Off the coast of Japan stands a crumbling, post-apocalyptic abandoned island that once held a bustling mining community.

What was once one of 505 uninhabited islands in the region quickly became a bustling, crammed metropolis.

The huge engine, the wonderful carriages, the imposing guard, the busy porters and the bustling station.

A gray-haired man with a bustling manner and wearing glasses came through the reception room and Mark stopped him.

When the Turks saw a destroyer come bustling up at an unusual hour they said to themselves, "fee faw fum!"

The streets, which are exclusively inhabited by Chinese, presented a very bustling aspect.

The principal street presents a bustling appearance, being much frequented by carriages, as well as pedestrians.

April 20, 2024flabbergast

[flab-er-gast ]

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Browse