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
Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Their unexpected connection propels them on a road trip to San Francisco… As the landscapes shift from the bustling city to serene coastal towns, their relationship deepens, revealing vulnerabilities, regrets and dreams.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Floor-to-ceiling steel doors align with the facade, creating what feels like a gradual transition from the bustle of Madison Avenue into the gallery’s more quiet interior.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bustle
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Verb
Raphael’s father soaked up both traditions and ran a bustling artist’s workshop, or bottega, in a building connected to the family home.
—Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Their unexpected connection propels them on a road trip to San Francisco… As the landscapes shift from the bustling city to serene coastal towns, their relationship deepens, revealing vulnerabilities, regrets and dreams.
—Kennedy French, Variety, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
Yes, this popular New England weekend getaway spot bustles with tourists in the summer months—for good reason.
—Kara Williams, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Floor-to-ceiling steel doors align with the facade, creating what feels like a gradual transition from the bustle of Madison Avenue into the gallery’s more quiet interior.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 24 Apr. 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 27 Apr. 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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