BUSIED Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

busied

verb

past tense of busy

as in interested

to hold the attention of the video game busied the child for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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.

Recent Examples of busied While their fellow Plums busied themselves with bridal parties and wedding cakes, these girls had political awakenings. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 27 May 2026 Appropriately, 19 miles east of their first major trophy lift since the 2021/22 League Cup, City men busied themselves by lifting the FA Cup over Chelsea in what was Pep Guardiola’s 24th visit to Wembley Stadium and his 20th major trophies as City manager. — Megan Feringa, New York Times, 17 May 2026 Another busied himself writing and rewriting the mundane information on his slate. — Taran Khan, The Dial, 24 Mar. 2026 Emma shook her head and busied herself with picking up her waders. — Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026 The department has also busied itself in Minneapolis with prosecuting residents opposed to what federal officials are doing in their city and immigrants trying to flee their pursuers, a tactic seen in other cities targeted for immigration enforcement. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026 For the first 12 minutes, the Celtics busied themselves by snapping up free points. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026 Eventually, though, after the Falcons recovered an onside kick successfully and knelt the rest of the way en route to a 19-17 victory, the family busied themselves jumping up and down, screaming for joy. — Diamond Vences, Charlotte Observer, 5 Jan. 2026 So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness. — Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for busied

Verb

Still, Musk has been known to want to sleep close to the action when a new project interested him or required his direct attention.

— Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 15 Sep. 2026
This question interested me as a computational biophysicist who studies how living systems process information and adapt to changing environments.

— Shiladitya Banerjee, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of interested

Verb

Tom Bonser, who was chief financial officer, left in January and has since taken on a new position at Fulham — although his role is now filled by Tom Rawcliffe, who previously occupied similar jobs at AFC Wimbledon and Bristol City.

— Paul Taylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Israel argues that the territory is disputed rather than occupied, and asserts that Jews have a historical right to the land.

— Reuters, NBC news, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of occupied

Verb

Fast forward over a year later, and he’s fully immersed within the DWTS family, taking on his second season with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Tatyana Ali as his celebrity partner for season 35.

— McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
About two years later, the couple got engaged, and by then, Seehorn was immersed in Larson’s family, which includes his two sons with Haney.

— Katie Mannion, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of immersed

Verb

But he’s intrigued enough to take the file from Emma anyway and quickly concludes, along with River, that Loy did not break his own arm and then barbecue himself making marshmallows.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
When a solar sales team showed up at Craig McKinney's Waxahachie home last year, he was intrigued.

— Erin Jones, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of intrigued

Verb

These two men out and about trying to get Frasers to join the cause, however, sounds like a terrible time for all involved.

— Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2026
There’s a wide range of dynamics involved in player communication that looks differently, but it’s been positive here.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of involved

Verb

The video quickly went viral, amassing more than 1 million views and thousands of comments from viewers fascinated by her unconventional childhood.

— Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026
Lead With Curiosity And Empathy I've always been fascinated by what makes people unique and how organizations can unlock that potential.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of fascinated

Browse Nearby Words

bushwhacks

busied

busies

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“Busied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busied. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of busied

verb

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