busy 1 of 2

1
2
3

busy

2 of 2

verb

Try This Instead

For
Try This
a busy place
a bustling place
a lively place
a hectic place
a crowded place
a congested place
a busy intersection
a bustling intersection
a crowded intersection
a congested intersection
a jammed intersection
a hectic intersection
a busy week
a hectic week
an eventful week
a productive week
a big week
a long week

Synonym Chooser

How is the word busy different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of busy are assiduous, diligent, industrious, and sedulous. While all these words mean "actively engaged or occupied," busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure.

too busy to spend time with the children

When would assiduous be a good substitute for busy?

While in some cases nearly identical to busy, assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application.

assiduous practice

In what contexts can diligent take the place of busy?

The words diligent and busy can be used in similar contexts, but diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit.

very diligent in her pursuit of a degree

Where would industrious be a reasonable alternative to busy?

The synonyms industrious and busy are sometimes interchangeable, but industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work.

industrious employees

When could sedulous be used to replace busy?

The words sedulous and busy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application.

a sedulous investigation of the murder

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of busy
Adjective
Down below, day laborers are busy digging into chorizos, morcillas, and flank steaks grilled right at the construction site, and the scent signals that the weekend is near. Allie Lazar, Saveur, 11 Dec. 2024 The initiative, which took place right after Chanel’s replica cruise show and amid the city’s busy holiday social calendar, brought together a diverse array of Hong Kong and Asian industry stakeholders, influencers and celebrities, fostering collaboration and cultural exchange. Denni Hu, WWD, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
Indeed, while fans and pundits have been busying themselves with speculation about the depths of his team loyalty and his future, James has been busy building an economic empire tying himself more fully to Los Angeles. Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024 While the crew, in pale blue shirts, busied themselves screwing in steps and attaching speakers, 10 front of house workers, in green shirts, arranged 250 chairs on three sides of the stage. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 4 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for busy 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for busy
Adjective
  • Now in their 30s, Bieber is married to model Hailey Bieber, and Gomez recently became engaged to music producer Benny Blanco.
    Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
  • By creating a supportive, educated and engaged environment, leaders can seamlessly embed wellness into the workplace routine.
    John Graham Harper, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Go online and virtually visit locations that interest you to determine where your wanderlust hunger takes you.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Some members remain for discounts and access to resources, products, and services that interest them.
    IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Instead, strategists drew on something that emerged from those focus groups: a fundamental belief in the value of diligent labor.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
  • The housekeeping staff was diligent, and the management team had a clear emphasis on high touch unobtrusive service, all of which plus the ongoing dance party music throughout bolsters the desire of guests to return soon and frequently to repeat the experience.
    Eric Fuller, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The formula is long-lasting and vibrant, which promises all-day wear, while the precision tip makes application so much easier.
    Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Whiskey finished in Naranja casks features vibrant orange and grapefruit notes and herbal notes of black tea; there are additional notes of sweet honey, caramel, wood spice, and vanilla hints.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • By Marci Robin December 19, 2024 Normally, know-it-alls are kind of annoying.
    Marci Robin, Allure, 19 Dec. 2024
  • But for Netflix’s biggest series, as annoying as this is, there are not exactly mountains of evidence that this matters for its biggest series.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The hotel, parts of which occupy a historic bell tower that’s been part of the city’s beachfront landscape for nearly a century, is designed as a celebration of the local culture of surfing, art and exploration.
    Ann Abel, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Escobedo’s overhaul of the Met’s modern and contemporary art wing, which occupies the southwest corner of the museum’s Central Park complex, will not expand the museum‘s footprint but will add nearly 50% more exhibition space, bringing the wing’s total gallery areas to around 71,000 square feet.
    Benjamin Sutton, CNN, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • Thousands of businesses like ours flourish in a thriving production environment.
    Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Another member, who runs a thriving real estate development company with his family, relied on Quintessentially to help book meal and hotel reservations on a recent six-week-long work trip through the Middle East and Asia.
    Brienne Walsh, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • There’s something officious about Alden Ehrenreich.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 21 Jan. 2023
  • Her charming luxury treasure trove has none of that officious chilliness that defines the typical store of its ilk but instead feels like a brocanterie crammed with interesting, unexpected luxury goods from across the world.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 2 Jan. 2023

Thesaurus Entries Near busy

Cite this Entry

“Busy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/busy. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on busy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!