bustled; bustling
ˈbəs-liŋ 
ˈbə-sə-
1
: to move briskly and often ostentatiously
bustled around the kitchen
2
: to be busily astir : teem
The house was bustling with activity.
: noisy, energetic, and often obtrusive activity
the hustle and bustle of the big city
clothing
: a pad or framework expanding and supporting the fullness and drapery of the back of a woman's skirt or dress
the bustle of a 19th century wedding gown
also
: the drapery so supported
Synonyms
Verb
Noun (1)
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bother
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- helter-skelter
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- 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
Examples of bustle in a Sentence
Verb
She bustled around the kitchen getting ready for dinner guests.
on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop
Noun (1)
I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Hunt, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende This beautiful property, set along a quiet street off the bustling town center and right across the street from NUMU, hosts a lively party featuring culinary experiences, altars, live entertainment, and a DJ.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
Looking for an out-of-town vacation to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life?
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bustle 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
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Verb
Uncovering what would have been bustling medieval cities at a dizzying elevation of more than 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) above sea level was surprising, said anthropologist Michael Frachetti, lead author of the new research published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende This beautiful property, set along a quiet street off the bustling town center and right across the street from NUMU, hosts a lively party featuring culinary experiences, altars, live entertainment, and a DJ.
—Claudia Alarcón, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
Aniya White, 20, also wanted to avoid the hustle and bustle of Election Day.
—La Risa R. Lynch, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024
Looking for an out-of-town vacation to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life?
—Aaron Valdez, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bustle
Dictionary Entries Near bustle
Cite this Entry
“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bustle. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bustle
1 of 2 verb
bus·tle
ˈbəs-əl
bustled; bustling
ˈbəs-(ə-)liŋ
: to move about busily or noisily
bustle
2 of 2 noun
: noisy or energetic activity
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