busily
Americanadverb
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of busily
First recorded in 1175–1225, busily is from the Middle English word bisiliche. See busy, -ly
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.
Though the movie strains for something epic, the drama doesn’t build so much as accumulate busily in front of us, all in service of a not-quite-revelatory point about the importance of telling overlooked stories.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026
Behind the bar, yeast busily converted sugars into alcohol inside giant stainless steel fermentation tanks.
From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026
In Ganim, about two dozen pre-fabricated homes have already been installed, while steamrollers and other construction machinery busily created new space for future houses on the hillside on Thursday.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
A solid opening date has not yet been announced, but the $400-million Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center in Exposition Park is busily preparing for liftoff.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026
He took a battered suitcase from the gatehouse and began to rummage busily through it, mumbling to himself, “No...no...no...this won’t do...no...h-m-m-m...ah, this is fine,” he cried triumphantly, holding up a small medallion on a chain.
From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
