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busy

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verb

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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
Even appliances, produce, and cookbooks—though certainly at home in this space—might be giving your kitchen a busy appearance. Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2024 The Work Project wasn’t about galas or red carpets; instead, their construction work kept them busy swinging hammers and driving nails. Sally Susman, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Verb
In spite of all the legal troubles, Diddy has been busying himself by clearing out his Instagram and going whitewater rafting. Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 3 July 2024 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 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
  • What interested me most was how to create and tell stories through the moving image.
    Sofia Celeste, WWD, 26 Dec. 2024
  • What interests you in Latvia, and the Baltic region, more generally?
    The Dial, The Dial, 17 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
  • Holiday Leftovers Salad Turn cold leftover turkey, roast beef, or other holiday meats into a vibrant, nutritious salad that’s perfect for an instant lunch and a healthy way to kick off the new year.
    Fox News Staff, Fox News, 26 Dec. 2024
  • In addition, Liverpool has a vibrant credit card business with more than 7.6 million credit card holders.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 26 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
  • For the first time in history, the entire top 10 on the Hot 100 is occupied by Christmas singles.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
  • To make room for a primary suite that occupies the second level, Taft-Gersten added a dormer at the back of the house to accommodate ample closets, a sitting area, and a deluxe bathroom.
    Stacie Stukin, Architectural Digest, 30 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 4 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on busy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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