busy

Pronunciation

• enPR: bĭz'i, IPA ^(key): /ˈbɪzi/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Audio

  (file)

• Hyphenation: bus‧y

Adjective

Positive busy

Comparative busier

Superlative busiest

1. If you are busy, you are doing something and not available to do something else.

   I'm sorry, I'm busy on Monday. Can we get together on Wednesday?

   I'm too busy to go to the movies.

   The doctor's busy with another emergency.

   We need something to keep the kids busy in the car.

2. If a time is busy, there is little or no time to rest because of work or other activities.

   Things are really busy at the office this week. I have five meetings tomorrow.

   December is a busy time of year for many shops.

   Cooking every day is very difficult with my busy schedule.

3. If a place is busy, there are many people or vehicles moving about.

   The roads are busy this morning, so give yourself extra time.

   Hartsfield-Jackson International is the world's busiest airport.

4. If a telephone is busy someone is using it and cannot take a call.

   I tried to call him, but the line was busy.

5. If a design is busy there are too many small elements in it.

   I don't think you should wear that busy dress.

Synonyms

• full
• hard
• active

Antonyms

• free
• empty
• plain

Related words

• busily

Verb

Plain form busy

Third-person singular busies

Past tense busied

Past participle busied

Present participle busying

1. (transitive) If you busy yourself, you find things to do to fill your time.

   He busied himself with fixing his tie as he waited for her to arrive.