bustling

adjective

bus·​tling ˈbəs-liŋ 

ˈbə-sə-

: full of lively activity : busily astir

a bustling market

bustling streets

Commercial ships and recreational boats were serviced by a bustling marine industry.

—AAG Abstracts

bustlingly adverb

a bustlingly busy area

Synonyms of bustling

• busy
• engaged
• diligent
• employed
• occupied

Examples of bustling in a Sentence

a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening

a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season

Recent Examples on the Web

Benin City, in southern Nigeria, has risen from a history marked by conquest and loss to become a bustling urban center of more than 2 million residents. —Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025

Unwind in Jardin du Palais Royal, a peaceful retreat for reading and reflection near the bustling Louvre. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2025

The normally bustling area fills with guests sipping drinks accented by a signature rubber ducky from the bar and listening to tunes from the player piano or artists singing lively carols. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025

Inside this all-electric showstopper, designed with customizable luxury interiors and an exceptional sound system, drivers will experience peace and tranquility even at the most bustling intersections. —Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bustling

• hustling