as in actively
in a manner involving great or constant activity
the deadline is in two days, so everyone in the department has been working busily
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Recent Examples of busily
The journey began on the top deck of a research vessel as a crew of Sims-like individuals busily prepared for the upcoming dive to the wreckage.
—
Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
King scored only 9, while busily directing traffic and delivering the ball to his go-getting teammates.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Let’s also look after our helpers — the lady beetles, earthworms, birds, bees, syrphid flies and lacewings that busily help our gardens thrive.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
That’s led to top Canadian creatives and producers becoming partners with major American producers busily making original movies and TV series in Toronto and Vancouver for global streaming platforms.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
Amid rampant speculation that Zendaya has already wed fiancé Tom Holland, the movie star is busily promoting The Drama, her upcoming A24 movie about, well, a wedding that may or may not end up happening.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
Except for the weird assortment of tentacled, befinned, leaflike, rocklike, or altogether bizarre strangers who busily or somnolently populate the stone.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The only wine club that exclusively ships Napa Valley red wine to its members, Robb Report 672 Napa Valley Wine Club is busily preparing its first selection of the year.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
In another slightly opposite situation, an actress left the stage and grabbed the cell phone from a member of the audience who was busily texting, totally ignoring the play.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2026
Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
King scored only 9, while busily directing traffic and delivering the ball to his go-getting teammates.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Let’s also look after our helpers — the lady beetles, earthworms, birds, bees, syrphid flies and lacewings that busily help our gardens thrive.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
That’s led to top Canadian creatives and producers becoming partners with major American producers busily making original movies and TV series in Toronto and Vancouver for global streaming platforms.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
Amid rampant speculation that Zendaya has already wed fiancé Tom Holland, the movie star is busily promoting The Drama, her upcoming A24 movie about, well, a wedding that may or may not end up happening.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 17 Mar. 2026
Except for the weird assortment of tentacled, befinned, leaflike, rocklike, or altogether bizarre strangers who busily or somnolently populate the stone.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
The only wine club that exclusively ships Napa Valley red wine to its members, Robb Report 672 Napa Valley Wine Club is busily preparing its first selection of the year.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2026
In another slightly opposite situation, an actress left the stage and grabbed the cell phone from a member of the audience who was busily texting, totally ignoring the play.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busily
Adverb
-
This leadership follows a congressional report showing foreign adversaries are actively influencing American academia — shining a spotlight on Indiana and Purdue University, in particular, as both a model for reform and a case study in risk.—
Joe Gebbia Sr,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Researchers from the University of Bristol in England and the University at Buffalo in New York found that people actively trying to suppress food cravings were more likely to spend time watching indulgent food content online — yet ended up eating less of it afterward.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Adverb
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Shop diligently online for those accounts with the best rates and terms, but act promptly to lock one in when ultimately found.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
27 Apr. 2026
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One company has been diligently working on something like that and claims to be inching ever closer.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busily.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busily. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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