busy

[ biz-ee ]

/ ˈbɪz i /

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See synonyms for: busy / busied / busier / busiest on Thesaurus.com

adjective, bus·i·er, bus·i·est.

actively and attentively engaged in work or a pastime: busy with her work.

not at leisure; otherwise engaged: He couldn't see any visitors because he was busy.

full of or characterized by activity: a busy life.

(of a telephone line) in use by a party or parties and not immediately accessible.

officious; meddlesome; prying.

ornate, disparate, or clashing in design or colors; cluttered with small, unharmonious details; fussy:The rug is too busy for this room.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR busy

1 assiduous, hardworking.

2 employed, occupied, working.

See synonyms for busy on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR busy

1 indolent.

2 unoccupied.

See antonyms for busy on Thesaurus.com

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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

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

non·bus·y, adjectiveo·ver·bus·y, adjectivesu·per·bus·y, adjectiveun·bus·y, adjective

well-busied, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use busy in a sentence

Rather than look at other busy boxes online, Adams came up with his own vision.
Why this Virginia man spent days making an Alzheimer’s ‘busy box’ for a stranger|Cathy Free|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
When there’s not much to do but sit around the fire and look up at the stars each evening, having something to keep your hands busy—like a wooden stick for making carvings—can be a game changer.
Recreating Historical Adventures in Old-Fashioned Gear|Ailsa Ross|November 12, 2020|Outside Online
Kemp said she’s been so busy reporting that she hasn’t yet filed papers to incorporate her nonprofit.
Robin Kemp lost her news job in Clayton County, Ga. — but she kept reporting the news. It paid off on election week.|Reis Thebault|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
The average busy adult will need well over 2,000 calories per day to maintain good health and energy.
How to stock your pantry to endure a long, uncertain winter|By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor Life|November 9, 2020|Popular-Science

Eric performs with Detour, a theater troupe in Scottsdale, but rehearsals aren’t enough to keep him busy.
People with Developmental Disabilities Were Promised Help. Instead, They Face Delays and Denials.|by Amy Silverman for Arizona Daily Star, with data analysis by Alex Devoid, Arizona Daily Star|November 5, 2020|ProPublica
It was the sight of her mother busying herself in her room that roused her, and henceforth she became alive to her position.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland
The two daughters went over to the tea tabouret, where a matronly maid was busying with the service.
The Adventures of Kathlyn|Harold MacGrath
She smiled at the conceit, busying herself with the tea things.
From Place to Place|Irvin S. Cobb
It is the true Arcadia, where you find refined and cultivated natures busying themselves with the simplest toils.
The Minister's Wooing|Harriet Beecher Stowe
The fugitives saw that some of the Space Men were now busying themselves with long metal cables.
The Revolt of the Star Men|Raymond Gallun

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, noun

Word 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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with busy

busy

In addition to the idioms beginning with busy

busy as a beaver
busy work

also see:

get busy

busy

OTHER WORDS FOR busy

OPPOSITES FOR busy

Origin of busy

synonym study for busy

OTHER WORDS FROM busy

Words related to busy

How to use busy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for busy

Derived forms of busy

Word Origin for busy

Other Idioms and Phrases with busy