engaged tone

British  

noun

1. US and Canadian equivalent: busy signal.  a repeated single note heard on a telephone when the number called is already in use Compare ringing tone dialling tone

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Example Sentences

In their place is a more reflective, though no less engaged tone as these characters, and others, seek financial and emotional stability.

From Los Angeles Times

“I ended up hanging up the phone as the engaged tone was driving me mad,” he said.

From New York Times

The paper says the problem is actually even worse, as the figures do not include callers who just got an engaged tone.

From BBC

It was a performance in Kes at Manchester’s Royal Exchange theatre in 2004, after graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama, that set the politically engaged tone of Garfield’s career.

From The Guardian

In October, it meant 3,768 callers did not get through and another 2,763 got an engaged tone.

From BBC