bustling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbəs-liŋ How to pronounce bustling (audio)
Definition of bustlingnext
1
as in busy
involved in often constant activity a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season

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bustling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bustle
1
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop

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2
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party

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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 bustling
Adjective
In the ‘80s, the restaurant was near the bustling Tryon Mall, and Beligrinis remembers a steady stream of customers and businesses close by. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026 In the bustling Nyamirambo sector of Kigali, customers at Moses Sansiman's milk bar are spilling out into the street holding large glass mugs full of the creamy white drink. — Fatma Tanis, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
The air base itself was bustling with activity after the men were apprehended. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2026 California offers retirees a wide range of lifestyles, from coastal communities and mountain towns to bustling cities and suburban neighborhoods. — Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
  1. busy
  2. buzzing
  3. bursting
  4. hurrying
  5. engaged
  6. vibrant
  7. teeming
  8. traveling
Adjective
  • Historically speaking, the season’s busiest time should be now.
    — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Product designers say the shift is reshaping how the busiest room in the house gets used.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of busy
Adjective
  • Still, a supportive connection between the moon, Neptune and Pluto retrograde adds a deeper undercurrent to all the buzzing and socializing.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Tucked away in a private backyard in Ashford, one of the state’s few apitherapy huts allows people to breathe in air from thousands of buzzing bees.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzzing
Verb
  • Morgan Stanley shrugged off the bubble-bursting concerns, with its Global Investment Committee reiterating a year-end S&P 500 target of 8,000 and a mid-2027 target of 8,300—bullish territory, not a bust.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
  • For a child bursting with energy, few things are more fun than hurtling through a bouncy castle, launching into the air, and ping-ponging between every surface.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of bursting
Verb
  • Before hurrying away from his tent on the beach, Saleh was asked what would happen if US support never came.
    — Nic Robertson, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Corle continued flagging and minutes later McCoy was back on the trail, hurrying to catch up.
    — Jan Thacker, Outdoor Life, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurrying
Adjective
  • Wealth screening can help nonprofits identify people who may have the financial capacity to give, but capacity alone doesn’t show whether a prospect is likely to care about an organization’s mission or become an engaged donor.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Over its nearly two decades of existence and with thousands of contributors, the site has built an engaged, global fanbase and has inspired short films, web series and games.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of engaged
Adjective
  • The styles range from vibrant turquoise and coral styles to sleek silver or metal versions, or even bolos made of abalone shells or petrified wood, too.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026
  • For years, Overland Park has been working on a long-range plan to transform Central Overland Park into a more walkable, vibrant and engaging space for residents, workers and visitors.
    — Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of vibrant
Verb
  • An archipelago famed for its friendly culture, white-sand beaches and teeming coral reefs, Fiji has struggled for years to contain a drug boom.
    — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Lunch hour has its beginning and its ending, and somehow the whole teeming chaos of midcentury Midtown must be crammed within it, before the hour slams shut.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of teeming
Verb
  • Soon, crew who had been traveling on the plane stepped in to stabilize it, issuing a mayday call and seeking a place to land.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Two people died and one remains missing after a medical transport helicopter traveling from Catalina Island to the mainland crashed into the Pacific on Wednesday; two others were rescued and stable.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of traveling

Browse Nearby Words

bustles
bustling
busts
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Cite this Entry

“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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