plural buses also busses
often attributive
1
a
: a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule
took the bus to work
double-decker buses
waiting at the bus stop
b
2
: a small hand truck
3
a
electrical engineering
: bus bar
b
computers
: a set of parallel conductors (see conductor sense d(1)) in a computer system that forms a main transmission path
4
: a spacecraft or missile that carries one or more detachable devices (such as warheads)
bused also bussed; busing also bussing
1
: to travel by a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule : to travel by bus
2
: to work as a busboy
1
: to transport by bus
busing kids to school
Students were bused in for the game.
2
a
: clear sense 4d
bus dishes
b
: to remove dirty dishes from
bus tables
business
Phrases
throw (someone) under the bus
informal
: to criticize, blame, or punish (someone in a vulnerable position) especially in order to avoid blame or gain an advantage
… we will not throw any student under the bus for instant restoration of our image or our reputation.—
Donna Shalala
Donna ShalalaBut he went out of his way to make clear that this one wasn't really on him. The problem lay with underlings, whom he quickly threw under the bus.—Rem Rieder
Rem Rieder
Did you know?
The History of Bus
In 1661, mathematician Blaise Pascal conceived the world’s first bus service, proposing that a number of coaches should “circulate along predetermined routes in Paris at regular intervals regardless of the number of people,” and pick up passengers for a small fixed fare. The word bus is short for omnibus, which means “for everyone.” Bus was first used in this sense in the 1830s, its "everyone" meaning referencing the fact that anyone could join the coach along its route, unlike with stagecoaches, which had to be pre-booked.
Synonyms
Examples of bus in a Sentence
Noun
She boarded a bus in Nashville.
Are you traveling by train or by bus?
Verb
He buses tables at the local diner.
Recent Examples on the WebElizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
An 8-year-old sole survivor of a bus crash that killed 45 other people in the northern province of Limpopo, South Africa, on March 28 was released from the hospital.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
During the Salt Lake City Winter Games, transit agencies across the country lent the local agencies their oldest buses.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Starting 2018, the company expanded into buses, acquiring travel operators in France and eastern Europe.
—Mark Bergen, Fortune Europe, 3 Apr. 2024
The California Teachers Association explained that often the clauses are included for classified staff, such as custodians, bus drivers and office employees, who are usually paid less and have less bargaining power.
—Molly Gibbs, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Still, fan favorites like the Powder Keg bar will remain, along with traditions like taking a bus back to some of the lifts.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday set strict emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, buses and other large vehicles, an action that officials said will help clean up some of the nation’s largest sources of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2024
The elusive Salley was eventually found in Miami, having traveled from New Orleans after taking a bus from New York.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024
Christopher Sherman, Elliot Spagat, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
But many speakers who packed the school board meeting Tuesday disagreed, telling board members that taking away busing would hurt children and result in more segregated schools and fewer opportunities for students.
—The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
About 678 of the 2088 students attending Creekside and Crossroads middle schools will lose busing.
—Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
However, other immigration experts warn that migrants who have been bused from states like Texas to New York City and Chicago have reported poor or unsafe conditions while being transported.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Passengers deplaned on the taxiway and were bused to the terminal.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
Abbott’s busing program, in which chartered buses take migrants to cities elsewhere in the country, has also helped relieve the pressure on El Paso.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2024
The district buses about 44,000 students of color and most are missing an average of 14 minutes of instruction each day.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Mar. 2024
The 104 passengers and crew members, traveling from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, deplaned the Boeing 737-800 at DFW and were bused to a terminal after the plane experienced a brake malfunction Feb. 10, according to the NTSB.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Mansfield school district’s R.L Anderson Stadium is almost 70 years old, and there are 100 buses that need to be replaced.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
An 8-year-old sole survivor of a bus crash that killed 45 other people in the northern province of Limpopo, South Africa, on March 28 was released from the hospital.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
During the Salt Lake City Winter Games, transit agencies across the country lent the local agencies their oldest buses.
—Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Starting 2018, the company expanded into buses, acquiring travel operators in France and eastern Europe.
—Mark Bergen, Fortune Europe, 3 Apr. 2024
The California Teachers Association explained that often the clauses are included for classified staff, such as custodians, bus drivers and office employees, who are usually paid less and have less bargaining power.
—Molly Gibbs, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Still, fan favorites like the Powder Keg bar will remain, along with traditions like taking a bus back to some of the lifts.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2024
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday set strict emissions standards for heavy-duty trucks, buses and other large vehicles, an action that officials said will help clean up some of the nation’s largest sources of planet-warming greenhouse gases.
—Matthew Daly, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2024
The elusive Salley was eventually found in Miami, having traveled from New Orleans after taking a bus from New York.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024
Verb
Mexico’s efforts have included forcing migrants from trains, flying and busing them to the southern part of the country, and flying some home to Venezuela.
—Christopher Sherman, Elliot Spagat, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Mar. 2024
But many speakers who packed the school board meeting Tuesday disagreed, telling board members that taking away busing would hurt children and result in more segregated schools and fewer opportunities for students.
—The Courier-Journal, 27 Mar. 2024
About 678 of the 2088 students attending Creekside and Crossroads middle schools will lose busing.
—Sue Kiesewetter, The Enquirer, 20 Mar. 2024
However, other immigration experts warn that migrants who have been bused from states like Texas to New York City and Chicago have reported poor or unsafe conditions while being transported.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
Passengers deplaned on the taxiway and were bused to the terminal.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 8 Mar. 2024
Abbott’s busing program, in which chartered buses take migrants to cities elsewhere in the country, has also helped relieve the pressure on El Paso.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2024
The district buses about 44,000 students of color and most are missing an average of 14 minutes of instruction each day.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Mar. 2024
The 104 passengers and crew members, traveling from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, deplaned the Boeing 737-800 at DFW and were bused to a terminal after the plane experienced a brake malfunction Feb. 10, according to the NTSB.
—Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bus
Cite this Entry
“Bus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bus. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bus
1 of 2 noun
plural buses also busses
1
: a large motor vehicle for carrying passengers
2
: a conductor or group of conductors for collecting electric currents and sending them to outgoing wires
bus
2 of 2 verb
bused also bussed; busing also bussing
: to travel or transport by bus
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