26984 words

busy

14 definitions • 33 examples
1
If you are busy, you are working hard, or giving your attention to a particular thing:

Examples:

keep someone busy I've got plenty of jobs to keep you busy.
Dad was busy in the kitchen.
busy with The kids are busy with their homework.
[ + -ing verb ] She's busy writing out the wedding invitations.
He was too busy talking to notice us come in.
2
If you are busy, you are not free or available to do something:

Examples:

Would you like to come over at the weekend, or are you busy?
I'm busy on Tuesday morning but we could meet in the afternoon.
3
A busy place is full of activity or people:

Examples:

a busy restaurant
Their house is near a very busy road.
4
In a busy period, you have a lot of things to do:

Examples:

I have a busy week ahead of me.
You've had a busy day.
5
If a phone line is busy, someone is using it:

Examples:

I tried calling you but the line was busy.
6
having too much decoration or too many colours:

Examples:

The jacket was a bit too busy for my tastes - I'd prefer something plainer.
7
to make the time pass by doing something:

Examples:

I busied myself with tidying up my desk.
I busied myself in the kitchen and tried hard not to worry.
I busied myself with voluntary work and, in time, forgot that I was miserable.
Anna busied herself in the garden till lunch.
Tom left the women to talk and busied himself arranging the children's toys.
She busied herself with checking emails.
8
(of a person) actively involved in doing something or having a lot of things to do, or (of a time or place) when or where a lot of things are happening:

Examples:

a busy street
the busy summer months
I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t had time to have any social life.
Getting the house ready for her relatives kept her busy the whole day.
9
If a telephone is busy, it is being used by someone else:

Examples:

Her line is still busy.
10
to make the time pass by doing something:

Examples:

Aimee busied herself with a favorite book.
11
working hard, or giving your attention to a particular thing:

Examples:

too busy to do sth I have been far too busy to think about taking time off.
busy with sth/sb All our agents are currently busy with other customers.
busy doing sth While we were busy planning our expansion, he was planning to take over the company.
a busy man/woman/person I won't take up much of your time, because I know you're a busy woman.
12
full of activity or people:

Examples:

The shop is always busy on Saturdays.
13
in a busy period, you have a lot of things to do:

Examples:

a busy week/day/morning It’s been a busy week.
14
if a telephone line is busy, someone is using it:

Examples:

I tried calling the office, but the line was busy.

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