Synonyms of busy

busy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbi-zē 

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

• engaged
• diligent
• employed
• occupied
• working
• active
• preoccupied
• industrious
• bustling
• immersed
• assiduous
• laborious
• sedulous
• hopping
• buzzing
• concentrating
• focused
• going
• absorbed
• tied-up
• humming
• lively
• operating
• vibrant
• engrossed
• functioning
• swamped
• thriving
• operational
• energetic
• happening
• animated
• focussed
• running
• knee-deep
• flourishing
• vigorous
• operative
• functional
• hardworking
• living
• intent
• tireless
• alive
• astir
• indefatigable
• untiring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• idle
• unemployed
• inactive
• unoccupied
• free
• unbusy
• sleepy
• quiescent
• dormant
• lifeless
• asleep
• passive
• slow
• latent
• inert
• dull
• dead
• inoperative
• nonoperating

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

• buzzing
• vibrant
• thriving
• crowded
• humming
• lively
• populous
• bustling
• brisk
• abuzz
• happening
• alive
• flourishing
• animated
• kinetic
• hopping
• rousing
• stirring
• abubble
• astir
• teeming
• swarming
• overflowing
• aboil
• thronging
• abounding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inactive
• sleepy
• dead
• lifeless
• asleep

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

• intruding
• annoying
• officious
• nosey
• interfering
• meddling
• nosy
• intrusive
• meddlesome
• pushy
• obtrusive
• rude
• pushing
• prying
• protrusive
• presumptuous
• snoopy
• presuming
• curious
• inquisitive
• bumptious
• invading
• brazen
• impudent
• insolent
• trespassing
• harassing
• impertinent
• bold
• overbearing
• pestiferous
• superserviceable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unobtrusive
• quiet
• silent
• uninvolved
• withdrawn
• retiring
• reticent
• reclusive
• reserved
• subdued
• restrained
• inhibited
• taciturn
• hands-off

busy

2 of 2

verb

as in to interest

to hold the attention of

the video game busied the child for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interest
• occupy
• intrigue
• involve
• immerse
• fascinate
• engage
• grip
• attract
• engross
• distract
• enthral
• preoccupy
• bemuse
• absorb
• catch up
• enthrall
• enchant
• obsess
• catch one's eye
• charm
• enwrap
• captivate
• beguile
• hypnotize
• mesmerize
• allure
• monopolize
• bewitch
• hog

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weary
• bore
• tire
• pall
• jade

Try This Instead

For

Try This

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

Recent Examples of busy

Adjective

Particularly the busy latrine of a North American river otter (Lontra canadensis). —Laura Baisas Aug 14, Popular Science, 14 Aug. 2025

Our winners impressed us in all categories and quickly became our go-tos for busy weeknights. —Kristin Canning, SELF, 14 Aug. 2025

Verb

In the early ’70s, Wilson busied himself with production and writing work on an album by American Spring, a group featuring two former members of the Honeys, his wife Marilyn and her sister Diane. —Chris Morris, Variety, 11 June 2025

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