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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Transform a slumbering downtown into a bustling business sector.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2026
The sheer scale, bustle and energy reflected the depth of the industry, even as the ominous rumblings of global trade continued in the background.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustle
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Verb
The neighborhood/area The Nam Hai is located about 18 miles south of the bustling city of Da Nang where there’s an international airport and a train station.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Transform a slumbering downtown into a bustling business sector.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
In 2011, Bacon and Sedgwick, who were married in 1988, acquired a Los Angeles property as a West Coast base, close to their two children, Sosie and Travis, and the bustle of Hollywood.
—Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2026
The sheer scale, bustle and energy reflected the depth of the industry, even as the ominous rumblings of global trade continued in the background.
—Mayu Saini, Sourcing Journal, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustle
Cite this Entry
“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bustle. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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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