Bustle — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈbə-səl/ bus·tle

Meaning & Definition of Bustle

Bustle (verb)

  1. to move briskly and often ostentatiously
  2. to be busily astir, teem

Bustle (noun)

  1. noisy, energetic, and often obtrusive activity
  2. a pad or framework expanding and supporting the fullness and drapery of the back of a woman's skirt or dress; also, the drapery so supported

Bustle (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of noisy, confused activity

    "I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge"

    similar: ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, clatter, clutter (chiefly dialect), coil, commotion, disturbance, do (chiefly dialect), foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha, hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry, kerfuffle (chiefly British), moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore (Scottish), squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo
    related: cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar, disorder, unrest, upheaval, eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee, scuffle, dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy
    near: calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, order, orderliness

Bustle (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to be copiously supplied

    "on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop"

    similar: abound, brim, bristle, bulge, burst, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem
    near: lack, need, want

  2. to proceed or move quickly

    "the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party"

    similar: barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb (slang), bowl, breeze, bundle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurry, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom, beat it, get a move on, make tracks, shake a leg, step on it
    related: beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle, stampede, streak, whiz, gallop, jog, sprint, accelerate, quicken, step out, catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake, arrow, beeline
    opposite: crawl, creep, poke
    near: dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bustle

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bustle:

Chiefly dialect: clutter, do
Chiefly British: kerfuffle
Scottish: splore
Slang: bomb
ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, clatter, coil, commotion, disturbance, foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha, hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurly-burly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry, moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bustle

Words with the opposite meaning of Bustle:

crawl, creep, poke

Related Words for Bustle

cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar, disorder, unrest, upheaval, eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee, scuffle, dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy, beetle

Near Antonyms of Bustle

calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, order, orderliness, lack, need, want, dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, tarry, amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll, decelerate, slow (down or up)

Word Forms of Bustle

Inflections: bustled, bustling

Origin & Etymology of Bustle

probably alteration of obsolete buskle to prepare, frequentative of busk, from Old Norse būask to prepare oneself

First known use: 1548

Frequently Asked Questions about Bustle

What does "Bustle" mean?

"Bustle" means to move briskly and often ostentatiously. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to move briskly and often ostentatiously. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bustle"?

Other words for "Bustle" include ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother and clatter. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bustle" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bustle"?

There are 171 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bustle". Common alternatives include ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, clatter, clutter and coil.

What is the opposite of "Bustle"?

Antonyms of "Bustle" include crawl, creep and poke. Near antonyms include calm, hush, peace and quiet.

How do you use "Bustle" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bustle" in a sentence: "I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge"; "on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop"; "the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party".

Is "Bustle" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bustle" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Bustle"?

"Bustle" is pronounced /ˈbə-səl/ and divided into syllables as bus·tle.

What is the origin of the word "Bustle"?

"Bustle" comes from probably alteration of obsolete buskle to prepare, frequentative of busk, from Old Norse būask to prepare oneself. First known use: 1548.