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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
Located just south of Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach appeals to travelers seeking a less bustling atmosphere while still remaining close to the restaurants, entertainment, and attractions of the Grand Strand. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 Once the bustling hub of moviegoing on the Westside of Los Angeles, Westwood’s theaters have gradually shut down over the past few decades. — Pat Saperstein, Variety, 29 July 2026
Verb
In an escape bordering on the miraculous, the crash somehow spared motorists on Milam Dairy Road and terrified workers in a bustling industrial warehouse district west of the airport. — Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026 The backstory The idea of creating a love letter to friends and family inspired owner Noel Hayden to set up shop here, on a bustling corner of Soho. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 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
  • Rooms in beige and red or beige and blue have busy wallpaper—some have views of the sea, others of the yacht harbor.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The helicopter, which was used by NBC and Telemundo, crashed about two hours after police say Rios drove her 2004 Ford Expedition the wrong way down a busy avenue, ran a red light and struck a vehicle before hitting the bus.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 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
  • That gives people agency and a reason to stay engaged with the problem rather than simply braced against it.
    — Gilda D'Incerti, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • While there are plenty of familiar names (MrBeast is 85, Charli D’Amelio is 100, Mark Rober is 90) the top of the list is filled with creators that have much smaller — but also much more engaged — audiences.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of engaged
Adjective
  • The city felt vibrant and full of possibility, especially as Russia seemed firmly on its way to a democratic future.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Instead of the usual vibrant red, this year’s carpet is peacock blue in honor of the 100th anniversary of NBC, which is broadcasting the ceremony.
    — Maane Khatchatourian, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of vibrant
Verb
  • The designer emerged to a standing ovation in a New York letterman jacket, the cherry on top of a summer in the city teeming full of optimism and possibility.
    — Anika Reed, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026
  • This teeming togetherness becomes evident even in Flash’s music.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of teeming
Verb
  • People traveling with family (or a lot of luggage) will appreciate the generous wardrobe and shelf space, with enough room to store your suitcases and keep the room uncluttered.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026
  • However, the Daily Mail reported that on Monday a truck carrying copies was travelling between a printing plant and a warehouse in the Netherlands when it was intercepted while parked in a lay-by, with four copies of the book mysteriously stolen.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 17 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 2026.

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