Meaning of busy in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈbɪzi/

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    UK accent Play button

  1. Verb

    busy

    Definitions

    1. keep busy with

    Examples

    • « She busies herself with her butterfly collection »

  2. Classifying Adjective

    busy

    Definitions

    1. overcrowded or cluttered with detail

    Examples

    • « a busy painting »
    • « a fussy design »

    Synonyms

  3. 2. intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner

    Examples

    • « an interfering old woman »
    • « bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself »
    • « busy about other people's business »

    Synonyms

  4. 3. crowdedwith or characterized by much activity

    Examples

    • « a very busy week »
    • « a busy life »
    • « a busy street »
    • « a busy seaport »

    Synonyms

  5. 4. (of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability

    Examples

    • « ('engaged' is a British term for a busy telephone line) »
    • « her line is busy »
    • « receptionists' telephones are always engaged »
    • « the lavatory »

    Synonyms

  6. Qualitative Adjective

    busy

    Etymology

    Old English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig, of unknown origin

    Definitions

    1. actively or fully engaged or occupied

    Examples

    • « busy with her work »
    • « a busy man »
    • « too busy to eat lunch »
    • « the line is busy »

    Synonyms

    Antonyms

See also