bustling

adjective

bus·​tling ˈbəs-liŋ How to pronounce bustling (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kai Sallas, the reigning International Surf Association longboard champion, was born and raised in Waikiki and operates his surf school from the stylish Kaimana Beach Hotel on the quieter, eastern edge of the bustling neighborhood. Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 15 Apr. 2025 The label just opened the doors of a new retail space in the city’s bustling Porta Venezia district, showcasing its women’s and men’s collections under the same roof, in a former tapestry workshop tracing back to the early 20th century. Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 15 Apr. 2025 Her setting is a bustling urban center, in the middle of which stands the Old City Gate. Aditi Sriram, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 Diners at bustling Peruvian mainstay Altamirano will be able to feast on dishes like Ferreñafe crab, lomo saltado (beef stir fry) and chicha brulée. Shawna Chen, Axios, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bustling

Word History

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bustling was in 1582

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Cite this Entry

“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bustling. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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