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.

The bar is busy, the lunchtime crowd is steady for a Thursday, there are bookings in the new rooms upstairs.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

A busy single mom, she focused on her heart in the years between her surgeries, exercising and trying to eat right, but didn’t always keep up with her nephrologist.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

But it’s not just the distinctive clothes that are uniting the people on these shows — it’s the fact that parenthood is just one aspect of these characters’ very full, very busy lives.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

At Joon Um’s tax and accounting firm, new clients are told to finish their paperwork by March 1, or his team may be too busy to make the April 15 deadline.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

While I’m busy overthinking, he comes around and sits on the edge of the table.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold

busy

Example Sentences

Related Words