otherwise engaged
idiom
: busy doing something else
He won't be able to attend because he's otherwise engaged.
Examples of otherwise engaged in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These gooey bars are great to eat while otherwise engaged with the game, especially when served chilled for less mess.
—
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024
Bush 43, wrestling with 9/11 and discretionary wars, was otherwise engaged.
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 17 Sep. 2024
Because the department has a narrow window to initiate a drug search, a K-9 unit most likely will not be available in time, either because the unit is too far away, otherwise engaged, or because there is no active unit that day.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2024
But even if the European Peace Facility is expanded and the rapid deployment force becomes operational, Europe will hardly be able to defend itself if the United States is otherwise engaged.
—Radek Sikorski, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
If you’re otherwise engaged when a former flame hits you up on Snapchat, stick to your boundaries!
—ELLE, 2 June 2023
If you’re otherwise engaged when a former flame hits you up on Snapchat, stick to your boundaries!
—ELLE, 2 June 2023
They are intended to be touched, climbed on, and otherwise engaged with.
—Lauren Elkin, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2023
He was known as a friendly, talkative customer who asked about their children and otherwise engaged them in conversation.
—Jacqueline L. Salmon, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2022
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Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024
Bush 43, wrestling with 9/11 and discretionary wars, was otherwise engaged.
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 17 Sep. 2024
Because the department has a narrow window to initiate a drug search, a K-9 unit most likely will not be available in time, either because the unit is too far away, otherwise engaged, or because there is no active unit that day.
—Thomas Goodwin Smith, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2024
But even if the European Peace Facility is expanded and the rapid deployment force becomes operational, Europe will hardly be able to defend itself if the United States is otherwise engaged.
—Radek Sikorski, Foreign Affairs, 20 June 2023
If you’re otherwise engaged when a former flame hits you up on Snapchat, stick to your boundaries!
—ELLE, 2 June 2023
If you’re otherwise engaged when a former flame hits you up on Snapchat, stick to your boundaries!
—ELLE, 2 June 2023
They are intended to be touched, climbed on, and otherwise engaged with.
—Lauren Elkin, Travel + Leisure, 21 Mar. 2023
He was known as a friendly, talkative customer who asked about their children and otherwise engaged them in conversation.
—Jacqueline L. Salmon, Washington Post, 31 Dec. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near otherwise engaged
Cite this Entry
“Otherwise engaged.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/otherwise%20engaged. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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