busy (ˈbɪzɪ
)
Definitions
adjective
Word forms: busier, busiest
- actively or fully engaged; occupied
- crowded with or characterized by activity ⇒
a busy day
- mainly US Canadian (of a room, telephone line, etc) in use; engaged
- overcrowded with detail ⇒
a busy painting
- meddlesome; inquisitive; prying
verb
Word forms: busies, busying, busied
- (tr) to make or keep (someone, esp oneself) busy; occupy
Alternative Forms
ˈbusyness nounWord Origin
Old English bisig ; related to Middle Dutch besich , perhaps to Latin festīnāre to hurrySynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
active,
efficient,
brisk,
hard-pressed,
tireless,
diligent,
industrious,
hardworking,
assiduous,
rushed off your feet
BY,
= occupied with
working,
engaged in,
on duty,
employed in preoccupied with absorbed in immersed in hard at work
engrossed in,
in harness,
on active service,
hard at work on
BY,
Translations
- British English:
busy
If you are busy, you have a lot of things to do.We were busy cleaning the house.ˈbɪzɪ ADJECTIVE We were busy cleaning the house.
- Spanish:
ocupado
adj ocupada
- French:
occupé
adj
- German:
beschäftigt
adj
- Chinese: 忙碌的 adj
- Arabic: مَشْغول adj
- Portuguese: ocupado adj ocupada
- Russian: занятой adj занятая
- Croatian: zaposlen adj zaposlena
- Czech: zaneprázdněný adj
- Danish: travl adj
- Dutch: druk adj
- Finnish: kiireinen adj
- Greek: απασχολημένος adj απασχολημένη
- Italian: occupato adj occupata
- Japanese: 忙しい adj
- Korean: 바쁜 adj
- Norwegian: opptatt adj
- Polish: zajęty adj zajęta
- Brazilian Portuguese: ocupado adj ocupada
- European Spanish:
ocupado
adj ocupada
- Swedish: upptagen adj upptaget
- Thai: ยุ่งวุ่นวาย adj
- Turkish: meşgul adj
- Vietnamese: bận rộn adj
Usage examples
Maybe that means they are all too busy dealing with the crime wave.
, CASCADES - THE DAY OF THE DEAD (2001)The Home cared for over 9,000 dogs from many different backgrounds in 2003 and this year is looking just as busy.
Country Life (2005)A group of young riders, having returned from a cross-country hack, are now busy ; jumping ponies over fences in a fine, new, sand arena.
Irish Times (2002)Bob Crampsey Pundit: A man of many parts who found his true love in sport Bob Crampsey likes to keep busy.
Glasgow Herald (2001)The `too busy ' conundrum The single most common reason for not exercising is, `I don't have time.
, BE YOUR BEST: How Anyone can become Fit, Healthy and Confident (2002)