bustled; bustling
ˈbəs-liŋ 
ˈbə-sə-
1
: to move briskly and often ostentatiously
bustled around the kitchen
2
: to be busily astir : teem
The house was bustling with activity.
: noisy, energetic, and often obtrusive activity
the hustle and bustle of the big city
clothing
: a pad or framework expanding and supporting the fullness and drapery of the back of a woman's skirt or dress
the bustle of a 19th century wedding gown
also
: the drapery so supported
Examples of bustle in a Sentence
Verb
She bustled around the kitchen getting ready for dinner guests.
on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop
Noun (1)
I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge
Recent Examples on the Web
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
By all indications, the first full day at the San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 went without a hitch Tuesday, with smooth check-in and security zones, bustling concession stands, speedy baggage claim and airy spaces that brightened the moods of travelers.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The Deck Saigon in District 2 is an idyllic escape along the Saigon River that transports you away from the hustle and bustle of the city as local boats drift along the water.
—Duncan Greenfield-Turk, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bustle
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Verb
The President's House, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall were all bustling on the day Coard met with USA TODAY, with tourists and locals stopping by.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
By all indications, the first full day at the San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 went without a hitch Tuesday, with smooth check-in and security zones, bustling concession stands, speedy baggage claim and airy spaces that brightened the moods of travelers.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
In Bologna, however, the films feel embedded in the bustle of the place, competing for sensory attention.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
The Deck Saigon in District 2 is an idyllic escape along the Saigon River that transports you away from the hustle and bustle of the city as local boats drift along the water.
—Duncan Greenfield-Turk, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bustle
Cite this Entry
“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bustle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bustle
1 of 2 verb
bus·tle
ˈbəs-əl
bustled; bustling
ˈbəs-(ə-)liŋ
: to move about busily or noisily
bustle
2 of 2 noun
: noisy or energetic activity
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