Busy Definition and Meaning
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Published on July 24, 2025
Busy means actively engaged in work or activities, not having free time. e.g., She was busy preparing for the party.
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Busy Definitions
Full of activity.
Downtown is busy during the lunch hour.
Engaged in work or thought.
The artist was busy sketching in her studio.
Not available for leisure or relaxation.
On weekdays, I'm busy until 8 PM.
Busybody: overly interested in others' affairs.
He's known as the office busybody.
To keep oneself actively occupied.
She busies herself with volunteer work.
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Having a lot of detail or decoration.
The wallpaper pattern is too busy for my taste.
Having a lot of things to do.
The week before the event, she was very busy.
Filled with or characterized by activity.
The market was busy with shoppers.
Engaged in activity, as work; occupied.
Characterized by or sustaining much activity
A busy morning.
A busy street.
Being a busybody; meddlesome; prying.
Being in use, as a telephone line.
Cluttered with detail to the point of being distracting
A busy design.
To make busy; occupy
Busied myself preparing my tax return.
Crowded with business or activities; having a great deal going on.
Be careful crossing that busy street.
Engaged in activity or by someone else.
The director cannot see you now: he's busy.
Her telephone has been busy all day.
He is busy with piano practice.
They are busy getting ready for the annual meeting.
Having a lot going on; complicated or intricate.
Flowers, stripes, and checks in the same fabric make for a busy pattern.
Officious; meddling.
To make somebody busy or active; to occupy.
On my vacation I'll busy myself with gardening.
(transitive) To rush somebody. en
A police officer.
Engaged in some business; hard at work (either habitually or only for the time being); occupied with serious affairs; not idle nor at leisure; as, a busy merchant.
Sir, my mistress sends you wordThat she is busy, and she can not come.
Constantly at work; diligent; active.
Busy hammers closing rivets up.
Religious motives . . . are so busy in the heart.
Crowded with business or activities; - said of places and times; as, a busy street.
To-morrow is a busy day.
Officious; meddling; foolish active.
On meddling monkey, or on busy ape.
Careful; anxious.
To make or keep busy; to employ; to engage or keep engaged; to occupy; as, to busy one's self with books.
Be it thy course to busy giddy mindsWith foreign quarrels.
Keep busy with;
She busies herself with her butterfly collection
Actively or fully engaged or occupied;
Busy with her work
A busy man
Too busy to eat lunch
The line is busy
Overcrowded or cluttered with detail;
A busy painting
A fussy design
Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner;
An interfering old woman
Bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself
Busy about other people's business
Crowdedwith or characterized by much activity;
A very busy week
A busy life
A busy street
A busy seaport
(of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability; (`engaged' is a British term for a busy telephone line);
Her line is busy
Receptionists' telephones are always engaged
The lavatory is in use
Kept getting a busy signal
Occupied with tasks or activities.
He's too busy to join us for lunch.
In telephony, occupied (line or signal).
I tried calling, but the line was busy.
Busy Snonyms
Active
Participating in activities or work.
They lead an active social life.
Hectic
Full of incessant or frantic activity.
Their schedule is always hectic.
Occupied
Engaged in an activity or task.
She remained occupied with her research.
Engaged
Busy or involved.
He was engaged in conversation and didn't notice the time.
Industrious
Diligently working or active.
The industrious worker finished early.
Bustling
Full of energetic activity.
The kitchen was bustling with preparations.
Preoccupied
Absorbed in thought or activity.
She seemed preoccupied with her work.
Swamped
Overwhelmed with work.
I'm swamped with reports to finish.
Tied up
Busy, not available.
I can't meet; I'm tied up all day.
Crowded
Filled with people, busy.
The beach is crowded in the summer.
Busy Idioms & Phrases
Busy as a bee
Extremely busy or active.
She's been as busy as a bee organizing the fundraiser.
Busywork
Work that keeps one busy but has little value or purpose.
The teacher assigned busywork to keep the students occupied.
In a busy period
A time with much activity or many tasks.
We're in a busy period at work due to the upcoming product launch.
Too busy by half
Excessively busy, to a fault.
He's too busy by half, rarely having time for his family.
Busybody
Someone who meddles in others' affairs.
Don't be such a busybody and mind your own business.
Nobody's too busy
It's just a matter of priorities.
Remember, nobody's too busy; it's all about priorities.
Keep oneself busy
To stay occupied with tasks or activities.
He keeps himself busy with gardening on weekends.
Busy street
A street full of activity and people.
The parade turned the usually quiet town into a busy street.
Busy signal
A telephone signal indicating the line is in use.
Every time I call, I get a busy signal.
Make oneself busy
To find tasks or activities to occupy oneself.
During the holidays, she makes herself busy with DIY projects.
Busy Example Sentences
The library was busy with students studying for finals.
My mom is always busy in the kitchen during Thanksgiving.
He kept busy with his new hobby of painting.
The airport is especially busy during the holiday season.
The restaurant is too busy; we'll have to wait for a table.
Despite being busy, she always makes time for her children.
The meeting room is busy with discussions and planning.
On weekends, the park is busy with families and joggers.
Busy schedules often lead to stress if not managed well.
She's busy reading a novel and didn't hear the phone ring.
The support line is currently busy; please call back later.
She's busy planning her wedding, down to the last detail.
The city streets are busy with the hustle and bustle of daily life.
He finds ways to keep busy even on his days off.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in "busy"?
The first syllable is stressed in "busy," pronounced as /ˈbɪzi/.
Why is it called "busy"?
The term "busy" originates from the Old English word "bisig," which means "occupied, diligent, anxious," reflecting the state of being engaged in or preoccupied with work or activity.
How do we divide "busy" into syllables?
"Busy" is divided into syllables as bus-y.
What is the root word of "busy"?
The root word of "busy" is the Old English "bisig."
How many syllables are in "busy"?
"Busy" has two syllables.
How is "busy" used in a sentence?
"Busy" is used to describe someone or something that is actively engaged in work or activities. e.g., She is always busy with her studies.
What is the verb form of "busy"?
The verb form of "busy" is "busying," which means to keep oneself occupied.
What is the pronunciation of "busy"?
"Busy" is pronounced as /ˈbɪzi/.
What is another term for "busy"?
Another term for "busy" is "occupied."
Is "busy" an abstract noun?
No, "busy" is not an abstract noun; it is an adjective or a verb.
What is the first form of "busy"?
The first form of "busy" is "busy" itself, as it is an adjective.
What is the opposite of "busy"?
The opposite of "busy" is "idle" or "unoccupied."
Is "busy" an adverb?
No, "busy" is not an adverb. The adverb form would be "busily."
Is "busy" a collective noun?
No, "busy" is not a collective noun.
Is the word "busy" imperative?
No, "busy" is not inherently imperative; it describes a state or condition.
Which determiner is used with "busy"?
Determiners like "the," "a," and possessive pronouns can be used with "busy" when it modifies a noun.
Is "busy" a countable noun?
No, "busy" is not a noun; it is an adjective and does not have a countable form.
Is the word “busy” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Busy" as an adjective does not serve as a direct or indirect object. As a verb, it can involve direct or indirect objects depending on its usage.
What part of speech is "busy"?
"Busy" is an adjective. It can also be used as a verb in some contexts.
What is the singular form of "busy"?
The singular form of "busy" is "busy."
What is the plural form of "busy"?
"Busy" does not have a plural form as it is an adjective; its usage does not change with number.
Is "busy" a noun or adjective?
"Busy" is primarily an adjective but can be used as a verb.
Is "busy" a vowel or consonant?
"Busy" starts with a consonant sound.
Which vowel is used before "busy"?
The vowel used before "busy" depends on the preceding word; there is no specific rule.
Is "busy" a negative or positive word?
"Busy" can be neutral, positive, or negative depending on the context.
Is the "busy" term a metaphor?
"Busy" can be used metaphorically to describe non-literal activities or engagements.
Is the word "busy" Gerund?
No, "busy" itself is not a gerund, but "busying" can be considered a gerund when used as a verb.
Which preposition is used with "busy"?
Common prepositions used with "busy" include "with" and "on."
Which conjunction is used with "busy"?
Conjunctions such as "and" and "but" can be used with "busy" in compound sentences.
Which article is used with "busy"?
The article "a" or "the" can be used with "busy" when it precedes a noun, depending on specificity.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
