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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Villasanti is momentarily caught between defending Guimaraes and marking Cunha, who is free because Raphinha is occupying Paraguay’s left-back, Junior Alonso.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
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Both Republican and Democratic senators expressed concerns about Pulte and his lack of national security credentials in occupying a role coordinating 18 federal agencies involved in domestic and foreign security issues.—
Josh Boak,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Venus and Jupiter align in Cancer in the part of your chart governing long journeys, higher learning, and international exploration, making the first two weeks especially ripe for immersing yourself in a new culture and simply having a wonderful time.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 May 2026
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The center caps its three-week sessions at 15 guests and describes its mission as immersing participants in practices and behaviors that might otherwise take years to develop through outpatient therapy alone.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2026
Verb
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And while the company presented more data on that drug Tuesday, showing promising first-line and combination data on daraxonrasib, scientists also showed in another session intriguing preclinical data on a completely new compound that may represent what comes after the current lineup.—
Angus Chen,
STAT,
21 Apr. 2026
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There’s familiarity there, but there’s also intriguing talent with Thompson.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Over the course of several interviews over the past month, Charlotte-area parents described child care not as a normal consumer decision but as something closer to a strategic campaign involving timing, networking, luck, financial compromise and backup plans layered on top of backup plans.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
11 June 2026
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Police said the gunfire erupted after a foot chase and assault involving two rival groups at the festival, according to WTOL 11.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
11 June 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
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Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Busying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busying. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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