1
as in engaged
involved in often constant activity
the deadline is in two days, so everyone at work has been extremely busy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity
the busy, often hectic floor of the New York Stock Exchange
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in intruding
thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited
she's one of those busy production facilitators—always concerned about other people's work and never her own
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to interest
to hold the attention of
the video game busied the child for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of busy
Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
In 2025, officers responded to the 1800 block of West Malvern Avenue regarding reports of a male engaging in lewd behavior inside his vehicle in a busy public area while his window was lowered.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 7 Feb. 2026
Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness.
—Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for busy
Adjective
Another consideration is when ships dock next to each other in busy ports.
—Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026
In 2025, officers responded to the 1800 block of West Malvern Avenue regarding reports of a male engaging in lewd behavior inside his vehicle in a busy public area while his window was lowered.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Had Steve Smith been fit and available to play, then the 31-year-old would have been patrolling another part of the field; maybe busying himself in the covers, or chirping away from under a lid at short leg.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 21 Dec. 2025
So, after the sombrero drew hearty guffaws, my friend Jim busied himself finding monuments to chip-and-dip tastelessness.
—Lee Michael Katz, USA Today, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for busy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busy
Adjective
-
The service Staffers are friendly, engaged, and helpful, without being overly formal.—
Sarah Kuta,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Just as mental wellness has become increasingly vital, pet benefits complement those efforts—helping to reduce loneliness, strengthen relationships and foster a more engaged workforce.—
Marissa Andrada,
Rolling Stone,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Just off the gondola entrance sits Club Moritzino, one of the Dolomites’ most enduring mountain huts and a buzzing lunch and apres-ski destination.—
Chadner Navarro,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
-
From Montana to Colorado, here's where to find great powder, epic skiing, and buzzing après scenes out West.—
Caroline Tell,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In Brazil, the debate on narcoterrorism, even after Furtado’s bill was back on the table, seemed not to interest the main figures of the country’s far right.—
Evandro Cruz Silva,
The Dial,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That doesn’t interest me as a writer.—
Ernesto Lechner,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The cases placed a spotlight on homeschooling, but some advocates said that homeschool parents are largely highly diligent about educating their children and should not be penalized for the other cases.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2026
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The diligent work of our law enforcement partners time and again uncovers those attempting to hide behind a computer screen.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This chic, streamlined Movado watch features a vibrant green dial, complemented by the brand’s minimalist logo.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Many are coated in a vibrant pops of red or blue, while maintaining a lightweight, long-lasting construction.—
Shagun Khare,
Martha Stewart,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
So now James is out here knowing that Siegfried was right, which is annoying.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The Kelce/Swifty thing got très annoying but Mahomes was a married guy with a few kids.—
Linda Perillo,
New York Daily News,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On one side stood a dozen or so cages occupied by snow-white rats.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
These are among the latest antisemitic conspiracy theories to be born from the Jeffrey Epstein files, following the document dump that has occupied online commentators for days.—
Grace Gilson,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The shopping center is in the heart of one of the country’s most thriving commercial areas.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Underlying the circulation of Proust’s work in post-independence Ireland was a network of literary salons (including regular gatherings at Devenport O’Neill’s home) and little magazines along with thriving modern-language departments in the nation’s universities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Busy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busy. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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