busy

Formsbusier, busiest

Formsbusies, busying, busied

1. 1
   lots of workadjective

   Having a great deal of work to do or many tasks that need getting done.

   The manager stayed busy throughout the holiday rush.

   Doctors are especially busy during flu season.

   UsageSay busy with something or busy doing something (not incorrect: busy to do).

   Similaroccupied, swamped, rushed, overworked

   Oppositeidle, free, unoccupied

2. 2
   crowdedadjective

   Crowded with activity or commerce, with a great deal going on at once.

   The harbor was busy with ships loading cargo.

   Holiday weekends make the airport especially busy.

   UsageOften busy with what fills it: a harbor busy with ships; forms busier, busiest.

   Similarbustling, crowded, hectic, lively, packed

   Oppositequiet, empty, deserted

   Note

   The sense that belongs to places and times rather than to people: a busy street, a busy day, the busiest ports. Shakespeare already has "To-morrow is a busy day," and the comparison is regular: busier, busiest. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • The quoted words occur in Shakespeare's Richard III, Act 5, Scene 3, spoken by King Richard III. shakespeare.mit.edu
3. 3
   not availableadjective

   Currently occupied or in use, and so unavailable to others.

   I kept getting a busy signal all afternoon.

   Both meeting rooms were busy, so we waited outside.

   UsageCommon with phones: the line is busy, a busy signal.

   Similarengaged, occupied, taken, unavailable

   Oppositefree, available, vacant

   Note

   Here the point is unavailability: a person who is busy cannot be interrupted, and a busy telephone line cannot be reached. Unlike the "much to do" meaning, it describes the present moment, not a workload.

4. 4
   keep occupiedverbreflexivetransitive

   To make someone active or occupied, giving them a task to fill their time.

   He busied his hands with knitting while waiting.

   To keep her mind off the test results, she tried to busy herself cleaning out every closet in the house.

   UsageUsually busy yourself with something or busy yourself doing it; forms busied, busies, busying.

   Similaroccupy, engage, employ

5. 5
   too detailedadjective

   Full of detail or activity to the point of seeming cluttered or intricate.

   The dashboard design is busy, crowding too many gauges together.

   Critics called the film's visuals busy and overwhelming.

   UsageSaid of designs and patterns: a busy pattern, a page that is too busy.

   Similarcluttered, fussy, crowded, elaborate, overdone

   Oppositesimple, plain, clean, uncluttered

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