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busy

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verb

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a busy place
a bustling place
a lively place
a hectic place
a crowded place
a congested place
a busy intersection
a bustling intersection
a crowded intersection
a congested intersection
a jammed intersection
a hectic intersection
a busy week
a hectic week
an eventful week
a productive week
a big week
a long week

Synonym Chooser

How is the word busy different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of busy are assiduous, diligent, industrious, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When would assiduous be a good substitute for busy?

While in some cases nearly identical to busy, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

In what contexts can diligent take the place of busy?

The words diligent and busy can be used in similar contexts, but diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

Where would industrious be a reasonable alternative to busy?

The synonyms industrious and busy are sometimes interchangeable, but industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

When could sedulous be used to replace busy?

The words sedulous and busy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.

a sedulous investigation of the murder

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 busy
Adjective
Aventura is also one of Miami-Dade’s poshest — and busiest — neighborhoods. Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 21 July 2025 Before, the mall was busy, with dozens of restaurants and shops for people to use. Sydney Sasser, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2025
Verb
Elphaba busies herself trying to expose the corruption helmed by the Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), while Glinda dons a tiara and becomes the people’s princess of the Emerald City, playing directly into the faux warlock’s agenda. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 5 June 2025 Liz busied herself in another room while Miller and the Warrens worked with Cooper. Tom Roland, Billboard, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for busy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busy
Adjective
  • Pick use cases where the data exists, teams are engaged and success can scale.
    Karan Jain, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • According to Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, the Mariners plan to remain engaged with the Diamondbacks on a potential Suarez trade. Source: Even after acquiring Naylor, Mariners plan to remain engaged with the D'backs on a potential reunion with Eugenio Suarez.
    Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • The Menu One user posted a photo of the menu, which interested several Redditors.
    Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • Browse our entire portfolio of newsletter offerings to pick more topics that interest you specifically.
    Eric Larsen, IndyStar, 17 July 2025
Adjective
  • Although resilience often looks like luck or good character, the ability to prevent or reduce losses from any type of risk entails careful planning and diligent efforts.
    Louis Gritzo, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
  • The group was not always diligent about following military directives.
    Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 14 July 2025
Adjective
  • Handshake Bitters Rooted in Persian heritage and Portland’s vibrant food scene, Handshake Bitters is part digestif, part storybook.
    Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
  • Columbus is regarded for its vibrant arts, culture and food scene, and ex-Hoosiers apparently want a piece of that.
    John Tufts, IndyStar, 25 July 2025
Adjective
  • Something that’s annoying, inefficient, or consistently painful.
    Darpan Munjal, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
  • The car inches along, slowly filling the air with the hope of a different future, carried on tiny — albeit annoying — wings.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 26 July 2025
Verb
  • The reality is only slightly more mundane: It was previously occupied by the manager of a pop superstar and a DJ/producer who recently closed a mid-eight-figure deal for his music catalog and label.
    Todd Longwell, Variety, 23 July 2025
  • The site was previously occupied by one of McDonald’s largest locations.
    David Moin, Footwear News, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • Although television viewership has declined, the wrestling industry today is financially thriving due to revenue streams such as media rights deals, sponsorships, and live events.
    Mark LaSota, Forbes.com, 27 July 2025
  • Far from the central city of Bari, and challenging to maintain, even those that remained farms were no longer independent and thriving communities.
    Aileen Weintraub, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 July 2025
Adjective
  • There’s something officious about Alden Ehrenreich.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Her charming luxury treasure trove has none of that officious chilliness that defines the typical store of its ilk but instead feels like a brocanterie crammed with interesting, unexpected luxury goods from across the world.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Busy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busy. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.

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