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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Example Sentences

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 That’s certainly how Republicans busied themselves in the last two years of the Biden administration, when Hunter Biden got more airtime than pharmaceutical ads. — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for busied

Verb

What interested me most was the psychic cost of doing this work day in and day out.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026
Someone interested primarily in direct one-to-one dating may place less value on its community emphasis.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of interested

Verb

About half of Faux’s dining room, on my visits, seemed to be occupied by the young and beautiful, perhaps strategizing, over moules bouillabaisse, when to move the party to the bar downstairs.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Set at around 4,700 feet where three great Alpine passes converge, Andermatt has occupied an important place on Europe’s map for centuries.

— Nick Scott, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of occupied

Verb

Doherty, reconnecting with Scotland during visits to see his mother, immersed himself in gritty British cinema by filmmakers Shane Meadows and Ken Loach, as well as music by Massive Attack, Siouxsie and the Banshees and PJ Harvey.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026
The mix of modern and vintage aims to make customers feel fully immersed in the world of Coach, according to a news release.

— Noelle Alviz-Gransee, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of immersed

Verb

Jason Oppenheim, the luxury real estate broker best known for his role on Selling Sunset, was intrigued by Pratt and Raman this election cycle.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
My 15-year-old daughter just got her learner’s permit, so when I was pitched a new gadget tailored to teen drivers, I was intrigued.

— Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of intrigued

Verb

Kember, who grew up in a Catholic household, and Pierce, the son of a proselytizer, were fascinated by spirituality.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
In 2008, passionate surfer Tim Russo purchased the property, renamed it, and set out to organically grow it into a resort full of wonder where serious surfers and travelers fascinated with the surf lifestyle could vacation happily.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 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 24 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of busied

verb

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