busy
[ biz-ee ]
/ ˈbɪz i /
adjective, bus·i·er, bus·i·est.
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.
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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
SYNONYMS FOR busy
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
Words nearby busy
busto arsizio, busty, busulfan, busuuti, busway, busy, busy as a beaver, busy lizzie, busy signal, busy work, busybody
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for busy
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, nounWord 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
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Idioms and Phrases with busy
busy
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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