Busy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈbi-zē/

Meaning & Definition of Busy

Busy (adjective)

  1. engaged in action, occupied
  2. being in use
  3. full of activity, bustling

Busy (verb)

  1. to make engaged in action, to make busy, occupy
  2. bustle

Busy (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. involved in often constant activity

    "the deadline is in two days, so everyone at work has been extremely busy"

    similar: active, assiduous, bustling, diligent, employed, engaged, hopping, industrious, laborious, occupied, sedulous, tied-up, working
    related: knee-deep, swamped, animated, astir, buzzing, flourishing, happening, humming, lively, thriving, vibrant, absorbed, concentrating, engrossed, focused, immersed, intent, preoccupied, alive, functional, functioning, going, living, operating, operational, operative, running, energetic, vigorous, hardworking, indefatigable, tireless, untiring
    opposite: idle, inactive, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied
    near: free, asleep, dormant, latent, lifeless, quiescent, sleepy, inert, passive, dead, dull, slow, inoperative, nonoperating

  2. marked by much life, movement, or activity

    "the busy, often hectic floor of the New York Stock Exchange"

    similar: aboil, abubble, abuzz, alive, animated, astir, brisk, bustling, buzzing, flourishing, happening, hopping, humming, kinetic, lively, rousing, stirring, thriving, vibrant
    related: abounding, crowded, overflowing, populous, swarming, teeming, thronging
    opposite: asleep, dead, inactive, lifeless, sleepy

  3. 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"

    similar: interfering, intruding, intrusive, meddlesome, meddling, nosy, obtrusive, officious, presuming, presumptuous, protrusive, prying, pushing, pushy, snoopy
    related: bold, brazen, bumptious, impertinent, impudent, insolent, rude, invading, trespassing, curious, inquisitive, annoying, harassing, pestiferous, overbearing, superserviceable
    opposite: unobtrusive
    near: hands-off, uninvolved, quiet, reclusive, reserved, reticent, retiring, silent, taciturn, withdrawn, inhibited, restrained, subdued

Busy (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to hold the attention of

    "the video game busied the child for hours"

    similar: absorb, bemuse, catch up, engage, engross, enthrall, enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, occupy, catch one's eye
    related: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess, hypnotize, mesmerize, distract, preoccupy, hog, monopolize
    near: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Busy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Busy:

active, assiduous, bustling, diligent, employed, engaged, hopping, industrious, laborious, occupied, sedulous, tied-up, working, aboil, abubble, abuzz, alive, animated, astir, brisk, buzzing, flourishing, happening, humming, kinetic, lively, rousing, stirring, thriving, vibrant, interfering, intruding, intrusive, meddlesome, meddling, nosy, obtrusive, officious, presuming, presumptuous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Busy

Words with the opposite meaning of Busy:

idle, inactive, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied, asleep, dead, lifeless, sleepy, unobtrusive

Related Words for Busy

knee-deep, swamped, absorbed, concentrating, engrossed, focused, immersed, intent, preoccupied, functional, functioning, going, living, operating, operational, operative, running, energetic, vigorous, hardworking, indefatigable, tireless, untiring, abounding, crowded, overflowing, populous, swarming, teeming, thronging

Near Antonyms of Busy

free, dormant, latent, quiescent, inert, passive, dull, slow, inoperative, nonoperating, hands-off, uninvolved, quiet, reclusive, reserved, reticent, retiring, silent, taciturn, withdrawn, inhibited, restrained, subdued, bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

Word Forms of Busy

Inflections: busier, busiest, busied, busying

Derived words: busily (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Busy

Middle English bisy, from Old English bisig; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German besich busy

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Busy

Words & Phrases Containing Busy

busy as a bee, busy bee, busy oneself, as busy as a bee, get busy

Frequently Asked Questions about Busy

What does "Busy" mean?

"Busy" means engaged in action, occupied. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: engaged in action, occupied. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Busy"?

Other words for "Busy" include active, assiduous, bustling, diligent, employed, engaged, hopping and industrious. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Busy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Busy"?

There are 120 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Busy". Common alternatives include active, assiduous, bustling, diligent, employed, engaged, hopping, industrious, laborious and occupied.

What is the opposite of "Busy"?

Antonyms of "Busy" include idle, inactive, unbusy, unemployed, unoccupied, asleep, dead and lifeless. Near antonyms include free, dormant, latent and quiescent.

How do you use "Busy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Busy" in a sentence: "the deadline is in two days, so everyone at work has been extremely busy"; "the busy, often hectic floor of the New York Stock Exchange"; "she's one of those busy production facilitators—always concerned about other people's work and never her own".

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

"Busy" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Busy" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Busy" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Busy"?

"Busy" is pronounced /ˈbi-zē/.