busy

adjective

\ ˈbi-zē

busier; busiest

Definition of busy

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : engaged in action : occupied She's busy studying. has enough work to keep him busy for a while

b : being in use found the telephone busy

2 : full of activity : bustling a busy seaport

3 : foolishly or intrusively active : meddling a busy, fussy sort of man much concerned with regulating everything— A. M. Young

4 : full of distracting detail a busy design

busy

verb

busied; busying

Definition of busy (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to make engaged in action : to make busy (see busy entry 1 sense 1a) : occupy busied herself about the room

intransitive verb

: bustle small boats busied to and fro— Quentin Crewe

Other Words from busy Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about busy

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Choose the Right Synonym for busy

Adjective

busy, industrious, diligent, assiduous, sedulous mean actively engaged or occupied. busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure. too busy to spend time with the children industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work. industrious employees diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit. very diligent in her pursuit of a degree assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application. assiduous practice sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application. a sedulous investigation of the murder

Examples of busy in a Sentence

Adjective

She's busy preparing for her test. Are you busy? Can I talk to you for a minute? I will be busy cleaning the house. I'm sorry I haven't called. I've been so busy. busy people who don't have time to cook I got enough work to keep me busy for a while. He is a very busy person. He's been busy in the kitchen all afternoon. My week has been so busy! Is there any time in your busy schedule for us to have lunch next week?

Verb

the video game busied the child for hours

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Heading into this high-stakes weekend, Trump advisers made a point of keeping the president busy and focused on positive developments, according to the Republican close to the White House. — Jonathan Lemire, The Seattle Times, "Trump claims vindication in Mueller report, goes on attack," 25 Mar. 2019 Sean Pavone/Shutterstock With a population of over 9 million, Tokyo is one of the world’s busiest and most colorful cities. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "The 25 most colorful cities in the world," 19 Feb. 2019 Don’t expect smiles or chitchat from the busy and busty dirndl-wearing waitresses, but do expect plates piled with roast pork belly, crispy schnitzels, potato pancakes, and sauerkraut. — Adam H. Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Perfect Long Weekend in Bavaria," 17 Sep. 2018 Ideally, coral reefs are busy and flourishing environments full of sight and sound. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "This Robot Will Hunt Lionfish to Save Coral Reefs," 27 Aug. 2018 In the meantime, Boeing must get busy delivering the new tankers with no more glitches. — Jon Talton, The Seattle Times, "Boeing’s other problem: Much-needed Air Force tanker keeps hitting snafus," 12 Apr. 2019 If so, a team of specialized snow tractors rigged up like mechanized sled dogs will get busy hauling Halley’s futuristic research pods farther up the Brunt to less fractured ground. — Jill Kiedaisch, Popular Mechanics, "Iceberg Twice the Size of Manhattan Soon to Break Free of Antarctic Shelf," 8 Apr. 2019 Back in town, this beloved pub gets busy after the lifts close. — Todd Plummer, Vogue, "Hard to Get to, Harder to Leave: Why Revelstoke, B.C. Is Skiing’s Hottest Destination Right Now," 22 Feb. 2019 Crowds can get pretty busy, though, especially during holidays and summer months when more people have time to travel. — Chanel Vargas, Town & Country, "Here are the Best Times to Visit Disney World in 2019," 1 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Brian Cox plays Logan Roy, the aging tycoon, whose children and other relatives busy themselves ensuring their future entitlements. — Dorothy Rabinowitz, WSJ, "The Best TV of 2018: Departures and Arrivals," 17 Dec. 2018 Before setting to work on ensuring that their comrade can keep his Senate seat, New Jersey’s Democrats recently busied themselves constructing a budget deal featuring raises on both personal and corporate income. — James Freeman, WSJ, "Serving Spartacus," 24 Oct. 2018 On the coast, a textured wall adds depth and charm without busying things up. — Heidi Mitchell, House Beautiful, "This Lake Michigan House Was Built With Summertime In Mind," 16 Aug. 2018 Your comrades standing around watching the show slowly find other tasks with which to busy themselves, not wanting to stare. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "The Year of the Tractor," 7 May 2016 But astronomers are now busying themselves preparing for the next visitor. — Nola Taylor Redd, Scientific American, "Interstellar Mystery Object Now Thought to Be a Comet," 27 June 2018 Off the field, Winston has busied himself with both his own charitable work and that of the team’s foundation. — Mike Jones, USA TODAY, "Because of his past, Jameis Winston can’t afford more transgressions," 22 June 2018 The first half of the movie busies itself with saving him. — Rebecca Farley, refinery29.com, "Sense8 Series Finale Recap: Farewell, International Orgies!," 8 June 2018 The chief sponsor of the League of Nations busied himself in his youth devising constitutions for a phantom yacht club and his college baseball team. — Richard Norton Smith, WSJ, "‘The Moralist’ Review: The High and Rocky Road," 19 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'busy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.