as in interesting
to hold the attention of
the video game busied the child for hours
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Recent Examples of busying
The song vamps where Railings used to weave and wind, its ever-busying rhythm section building tension atop its harmonic simplicity.
—
Craig Heed, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Much like her idol Marlene Dietrich, Novak walked away from the business under her own steam, and has largely kept to herself, marrying an equine veterinarian and busying herself raising horses and painting.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2025
Craig Heed, Pitchfork, 29 Jan. 2026
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
Much like her idol Marlene Dietrich, Novak walked away from the business under her own steam, and has largely kept to herself, marrying an equine veterinarian and busying herself raising horses and painting.
—Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busying
Verb
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They're arranged in haphazard rows, with Andrew Jackson occupying a prime front spot simply because the owner likes his hair.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
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In general, a garden bed should be organized so the low-lying plants are in the foreground or used as edging, the medium-sized plants are occupying the middle section, and the tall plants are in the back.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But Carew’s main objective is to continue immersing himself ever deeper into his new craft.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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The new installment promises challenges across diverse locations, from navigating the Angolan desert in track vehicles to immersing in Malaysia’s automotive scene and testing American performance cars in California.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The likes of Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi are intriguing new options, but none offer the combination of experience, tactical flexibility and past silverware than Tuchel, a manager who brings solidity in and out of possession.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The crackdown follows fatal crashes involving truck drivers who weren’t properly qualified, including incidents in Florida and Indiana that killed multiple people.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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Federal ethics rules generally bar government employees for one year from working on matters involving their former employers or clients.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busying. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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