bustling

adjective

bus·​tling ˈbəs-liŋ 

ˈbə-sə-

: full of lively activity : busily astir

a bustling market

bustling streets

Commercial ships and recreational boats were serviced by a bustling marine industry.

—AAG Abstracts

bustlingly adverb

a bustlingly busy area

Synonyms of bustling

• busy
• engaged
• diligent
• employed
• occupied

Examples of bustling in a Sentence

a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening

a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season

Recent Examples on the Web

Walk Into a Bar A bustling hub of multicultural film discourse each July, McKibbins’ Irish Pub in Montreal (the one by Concordia University, not Cinema L’Amor) is a pretty good time. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026

For baby boomers who love the idea of Florida but want the classic coastal experience, there’s Tampa, a bustling city with access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2026

West Side homeless encampment At the bustling encampment on West 45th Street at 11th Avenue, people shave with water from a hydrant and use strips of plastic and cardboard to find shade. — Dave Carlin, CBS News, 13 July 2026

While Baltimore still had a bustling downtown shopping scene on Howard Street, the business community saw the potential of new markets and shoppers who did not want to pay downtown parking fees or ride public transit. — Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bustling

• hustling