busy
busy
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "busy" is /ˈbɪzi/.
First syllable (/bɪ/):
/b/ as in "bat"
/ɪ/ as in "sit"
Second syllable (/zi/):
/z/ as in "zoo"
/i/ as in "see"
Word Form Variations
Adjective: busy (comparative: busier, superlative: busiest)
Verb: busy (present tense: busies, past tense: busied, present participle: busying, past participle: busied)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Engaged in activity; occupied.
Definition: Actively involved in doing something, leaving little or no free time.
Synonyms: occupied, engaged, working, active, industrious, occupied, assiduous
Antonyms: idle, free, inactive, unemployed, unengaged, leisure
Example: She was very busy with her new project, barely having time for lunch.
Full of activity or details; bustling.
Definition: Characterized by a high level of activity, movement, or numerous intricate elements.
Synonyms: bustling, hectic, lively, active, crowded, elaborate, ornate
Antonyms: quiet, calm, deserted, empty, plain, simple
Example: The market was a busy place on Saturdays, full of vendors and shoppers.
(Of a telephone line) In use.
Definition: Referring to a telephone line that is currently occupied with a call and therefore unavailable for another.
Synonyms: engaged, occupied
Antonyms: clear, open, available
Example: I tried to call her, but the line was busy.
Verb
To keep oneself occupied or engaged.
Definition: To apply oneself to a task or activity, often to maintain a state of being active.
Synonyms: occupy, engage, employ, involve, engross
Antonyms: relax, rest, idle, loaf, disengage
Example: He busied himself with gardening to take his mind off his worries.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The little house was always busy; there were always clothes to be mended, and socks to be darned, and mittens to be knitted, and bread to be baked." (Laura Ingalls Wilder, Little House in the Big Woods, 1932)
"His mind was too busy to settle on one thought for long." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, 2000)
Newspapers:
"Retailers are bracing for a busy holiday shopping season, anticipating a surge in consumer spending." (The New York Times)
"Traffic was particularly busy on the interstate this morning due to the unexpected road closures." (Los Angeles Times)
Online Publications:
"How to Stay Productive When You're Too Busy to Focus" (Forbes.com)
"The tech sector remains incredibly busy with innovation, constantly releasing new products and services." (TechCrunch.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Show (Dialogue): "I'm sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm a little busy." (From an episode of The Office)
Song Lyrics: "I've been busy, I've been busy, I've been busy / Drowning out the noise with the sweet melody" (From the song "Busy" by The War on Drugs)
Movie Title: Busybodies (1933 film)
Video Game (In-game text): "The blacksmith is currently busy crafting new armor. Please check back later." (From a popular role-playing game, unspecified date)
Social Media Post (Instagram caption): "Just finished a busy week of meetings and now ready for the weekend!" (User @travelbug, May 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"Are you busy this weekend? I was hoping we could grab coffee." (Common conversational phrase)
"My computer's been really busy running updates all morning." (Informal conversation)
"It's been a very busy day at work, I'm exhausted." (Everyday spoken English)
10 Quotes Using Busy
"The busiest man is not the one who does most, but the one who does what is most important." (Attributed to Frank Lloyd Wright)
"The secret of being miserable is to have leisure to wonder whether you are happy or not. The cure for it is occupation, for occupation means being busy." (George Bernard Shaw)
"I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well." (Elizabeth Cady Stanton)
"It is not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about?" (Henry David Thoreau)
"A man has to be busy to be successful." (Unknown)
"The world is a busy place, and it will keep you busy if you let it." (Original)
"To be busy is to be alive." (Attributed to unknown sources)
"I'm busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener." (Unknown)
"Don't be busy, be productive." (Unknown)
"The most important thing is to keep yourself busy and not let your mind wander into places it shouldn't." (Original)
Etymology
The word "busy" has a long history, tracing its roots back to Old English.
Its earliest known form in Old English was "bisig" or "bysiġ." At that time, its main meanings were "careful," "anxious," or "diligent." So, if someone was "bisig," they were likely paying close attention to something, perhaps worried about it, or working hard on a task.
Over time, as English evolved into Middle English, the word became "bisy" or "busie." While it still carried the sense of "diligence" and "being occupied," the meaning of "anxious" or "careful" started to fade away.
By the time we get to modern English, the meaning has firmly settled on "continually employed or occupied" and "in constant or energetic action," which is how we primarily use it today. Interestingly, for some unclear reason, the spelling shifted from "bisy" to "busy" in the 15th century, but the pronunciation stayed largely the same.
You can also see its connection in the word "business," which in Old English was "bisignes." This originally meant "care, anxiety, or occupation," directly coming from "bisig." While "business" now primarily refers to commercial activities or a specific task, its origin shows that it was once closely tied to the general idea of being "busy" or occupied with something.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Busy
Busy as a bee: Very active and hardworking.
Busy oneself with: To occupy or engage oneself in an activity.
Get busy: To start working or to become active.
Busy signal: An audible tone indicating a telephone line is in use.
Keep someone busy: To provide someone with enough tasks or activities to keep them occupied.
A busy body: A person who meddles in the affairs of others.
Hectic schedule: A very busy or full timetable. (Uses synonym "hectic")
Swamped with work: Overloaded with a large amount of work. (Uses synonym "swamped")
To be tied up: To be busy and unable to do something else. (Uses synonym "tied up")
Engaged in thought: Deeply concentrating or thinking. (Uses synonym "engaged")
On the go: Constantly active or moving.
A full plate: Having many responsibilities or tasks to handle.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of busy from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
