busy

busy

adjective

Definition of BUSY

1

involved in often constant activity <the deadline is in two days, so everyone at work has been extremely busy>

Synonyms active, assiduous, bustling, diligent, employed, engaged, hopping, industrious, laborious, occupied, sedulous, tied-up, working

Related Words knee-deep, swamped; animated, astir, buzzing, flourishing, happening, humming, lively, thriving, vibrant; absorbed, concentrating, engrossed, focused (also focussed), immersed, intent, preoccupied; alive, functional, functioning, going, living, operating, operational, operative, running; energetic, vigorous; hardworking; indefatigable, tireless, untiring

Near Antonyms free; asleep, dormant, latent, lifeless, quiescent, sleepy; inert, passive; dead, dull, slow; inoperative, nonoperating

Antonyms idle, inactive, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied

2

marked by much life, movement, or activity <the busy, often hectic floor of the New York Stock Exchange>

Synonyms aboil, abubble, abuzz, animated, astir, brisk, bustling, busy, buzzing, flourishing, happening, hopping, humming, kinetic, lively, rousing, stirring, thriving, vibrant

Related Words abounding, crowded, overflowing, populous, swarming, teeming, thronging

Antonyms asleep, dead, inactive, lifeless, sleepy

3

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited <she's one of those busy production facilitators—always concerned about other people's work and never her own>

Synonyms busy, interfering, intruding, meddlesome, meddling, nosy (or nosey), obtrusive, officious, presuming, presumptuous, protrusive, prying, pushing, pushy, snoopy

Related Words bold, brazen, bumptious, impertinent, impudent, insolent, rude; invading, trespassing; curious, inquisitive; annoying, harassing, pestiferous; overbearing, superserviceable

Near Antonyms hands-off; uninvolved; quiet, reclusive, reserved, reticent, retiring, silent, taciturn, withdrawn; inhibited, restrained, subdued

Antonyms unobtrusive