Synonyms of busy

busy 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbi-zē 

1

as in engaged

involved in often constant activity

the deadline is in two days, so everyone at work has been extremely busy

Synonyms & Similar Words

• engaged
• diligent
• employed
• occupied
• working
• active
• preoccupied
• industrious
• bustling
• immersed
• assiduous
• laborious
• sedulous
• hopping
• buzzing
• concentrating
• focused
• going
• absorbed
• tied-up
• humming
• lively
• operating
• vibrant
• engrossed
• functioning
• swamped
• thriving
• operational
• energetic
• happening
• animated
• focussed
• running
• knee-deep
• flourishing
• vigorous
• operative
• functional
• hardworking
• living
• intent
• tireless
• alive
• astir
• indefatigable
• untiring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• idle
• unemployed
• inactive
• unoccupied
• free
• unbusy
• sleepy
• quiescent
• dormant
• lifeless
• asleep
• passive
• slow
• latent
• inert
• dull
• dead
• inoperative
• nonoperating

2

as in buzzing

marked by much life, movement, or activity

the busy, often hectic floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzing
• vibrant
• thriving
• crowded
• humming
• lively
• populous
• bustling
• brisk
• abuzz
• happening
• alive
• flourishing
• animated
• kinetic
• hopping
• rousing
• stirring
• abubble
• astir
• teeming
• swarming
• overflowing
• aboil
• thronging
• abounding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inactive
• sleepy
• dead
• lifeless
• asleep

3

as in intruding

thrusting oneself where one is not welcome or invited

she's one of those busy production facilitators—always concerned about other people's work and never her own

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intruding
• annoying
• officious
• nosey
• interfering
• meddling
• nosy
• intrusive
• meddlesome
• pushy
• obtrusive
• rude
• pushing
• prying
• protrusive
• presumptuous
• snoopy
• presuming
• curious
• inquisitive
• bumptious
• invading
• brazen
• impudent
• insolent
• trespassing
• harassing
• impertinent
• bold
• overbearing
• pestiferous
• superserviceable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unobtrusive
• quiet
• silent
• uninvolved
• withdrawn
• retiring
• reticent
• reclusive
• reserved
• subdued
• restrained
• inhibited
• taciturn
• hands-off

busy

2 of 2

verb

as in to interest

to hold the attention of

the video game busied the child for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interest
• occupy
• intrigue
• involve
• immerse
• fascinate
• engage
• grip
• attract
• engross
• distract
• enthral
• preoccupy
• bemuse
• absorb
• catch up
• enthrall
• enchant
• obsess
• catch one's eye
• charm
• enwrap
• captivate
• beguile
• hypnotize
• mesmerize
• allure
• monopolize
• bewitch
• hog

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weary
• bore
• tire
• pall
• jade

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of busy

Adjective

And the 2025 awards ceremony could turn out to be a pretty busy night for him: Noah is also serving as a producer for the show, and could potentially need to get up and give an acceptance speech as one of this year’s nominees. —Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 22 Jan. 2025

Zoom in: In December, Indianapolis International Airport announced that more than 10 million people traveled through the airport in 2024, a new record. More than 2.8 million people flew through the Indy airport in June, July and August, marking the busiest summer in the airport's history. —Justin L. MacK, Axios, 22 Jan. 2025

Verb

The 52-year-old Virginia native is the founder-CEO of Juice Generation, which has spent 25 years serving protein shakes and green juice to busy New Yorkers. —Jane Thier, Fortune, 31 July 2024

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