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
Wynwood began as farmland, then became an industrial hub and, eventually, a bustling garment district. — Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026 Times have changed, and now the area is a bustling center of commerce and recreation centered around Oracle Park and the Chase Center, with a massive city park expected to break ground later this year. — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
On weekends and during major events, Downtown Detroit is usually bustling, and this is when DPD sees an increase in golf carts being driven on streets and sidewalks, according to the Detroit Police Department. — Veronica Ortega, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Oxford Street still sees about half a million visitors a day, with shoppers bustling between retailers such as Selfridges, Zara and John Lewis. — Danica Kirka, Fortune, 26 Oct. 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
  • More than 100 people were killed and 113 others were wounded on Monday in a Sudanese military drone strike on a busy market in Nyala, the capital of the South Darfur province, said Emergency Lawyers, a rights group tracking violence.
    — YASSIR ABDALLA, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • But the company thinks its initial bet on infrastructure inspection will keep it busy for the foreseeable future.
    — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of busy
Adjective
  • Its tight curves and angled seams recall aeronautic skins, giving the surface a sense of buzzing movement — an appropriate preview for what’s inside.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
  • The event was followed by a buzzing reception with vendors, entertainment and cake, per KFSM.
    — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzzing
Verb
  • When a bank of televisions showed horses bursting through the starting gate, feet stomped on the club’s carpet.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • And every few months, a bursting FedEx envelope from Baltimore would appear at my desk at PRH containing Professor Dixon’s typewritten chunks of new and unpublished writing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 Oct. 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
  • Finally, big hospital systems can fight back even when engaged employers try to steer patients to cheaper providers.
    — Tony Lo Sasso, STAT, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Of the six engaged couples on Love Is Blind season 11, Boston’s Michaella Giorgio and Rob Feeley seemed most likely to make it down the aisle.
    — Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of engaged
Adjective
  • The Fitbit Edge makes a strong case for the classic fitness tracker, pairing accurate health metrics and a vibrant AMOLED screen with cross-platform support at a reasonable price.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Skinner, 32, rocked a multicolor plaid miniskirt with a scandalous slit, capping off the look with a long blond wig, pink hoop earrings, a blue plaid headband and vibrant makeup.
    — Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibrant
Verb
  • In the late 19th century, the Devil’s Mile was an avatar of urban development—the site of an elevated train that cut a clamorous swath through the teeming neighborhoods of Lower Manhattan.
    — J. Hoberman, ARTnews.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Here, in the heart of an expansive park filled with birds and monkeys, is a refuge from the frenzy of this teeming metropolis.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of teeming
Verb
  • The workers were protesting potential pay cuts, with the road closures forcing cruise passengers to walk with their luggage instead of traveling by bus or car, the same outlet reported.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Yappy ends up playing the role of matchmaker and new best friend, pulling Billie towards her traveling contractor ex-boyfriend from high school, Hutch (Harding).
    — Rachel LaBonte, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of traveling

Browse Nearby Words

bustles
bustling
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Cite this Entry

“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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