Definitions

busy

[biz-ee] / ˈbɪz i /

ADJECTIVE

engaged, at work

Synonyms

STRONGEST

active unavailable working

STRONG

buried employed engaged engrossed hustling occupied overloaded persevering slaving snowed swamped

WEAK

already taken assiduous at it diligent having a full plate having enough on one's plate having fish to fry having many irons in the fire in a meeting in conference in someone else's possession in the field in the laboratory industrious on assignment on duty on the go tied-up up to one's ears with a customer

Antonyms

STRONGEST

idle

STRONG

inactive unoccupied

WEAK

lazy quiet unbusy unemployed unengaged

ADJECTIVE

active, on the go

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bustling full hectic lively restless

STRONG

humming hustling popping tiring

WEAK

busy as a beaver energetic fussy strenuous tireless

Antonyms

WEAK

idle inactive lazy quiet unbusy unemployed unengaged

ADJECTIVE

nosy, impertinent

Synonyms

STRONGEST

curious

STRONG

forward interfering meddling prying stirring

WEAK

butting in inquisitive intrusive meddlesome nebby obtrusive officious pushy snoopy troublesome

Antonyms

WEAK

idle inactive lazy quiet unbusy unemployed unengaged

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Touch wood," she said, adding that if she wins for The Devil is Busy, she will share the stage with her co-director Christalyn Hampton.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Beth Benike, the owner of Busy Baby, a baby-products company in Oronoco, Minn., that is part of that coalition, said the damage from last year had already been done.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 22, 2026

“James Van Der Beek was one in a billion and he will be forever missed and i don’t know what else to say,” wrote Busy Philipps in her Instagram tribute.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

Appeared in the January 14, 2026, print edition as 'Zach Bryan Stays Busy'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 13, 2026

“You say you’ve been busy. Busy doing what?”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

busy

Example Sentences

Related Words