Busy (Adjective)
Meaning 1
Overcrowded or cluttered with detail; "a busy painting"; "a fussy design".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The painter's style is known for being extremely busy, with every inch of canvas filled with intricate patterns and shapes.
- Her embroidery skills were on full display in the busy quilts she lovingly created for each of her grandchildren.
- The tourists complained about the busy souvenir shops lining the beachside boardwalk.
- He described his brother's studio as a cluttered, busy space that made him anxious to work there.
- Their tiny home office became busy and claustrophobic when his collection of old office machines spilled over into her sewing corner.
Synonyms
Meaning 2
Intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner; "an interfering old woman"; "bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself"; "busy about other people's business".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- She was a busy neighbor, always poking her nose into other people's affairs and offering unsolicited advice.
- The busy manager was always barging into his employees' offices, questioning their work and making unnecessary suggestions.
- He was a busy politician, always inserting himself into local issues and trying to take credit for other people's accomplishments.
- The busy gossip columnist was notorious for prying into celebrities' private lives and publishing scandalous rumors.
- The busy activist was always butting into other people's conversations, trying to recruit them for her cause and lecturing them on their supposed ignorance.
Synonyms
Meaning 3
(of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability; (`engaged' is a British term for a busy telephone line); "her line is busy"; "receptionists' telephones are always engaged"; "the lavatory is in use"; "kept getting a busy signal".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The payphone was busy, so I had to wait to make my call.
- The receptionist's phone was engaged, so I left a message with her assistant.
- The lavatory is in use, please wait until it becomes available.
- I kept getting a busy signal when I tried to call the restaurant to make a reservation.
- The public restroom was busy, so I decided to wait until I got home to use the bathroom.
Synonyms
Related Words
Meaning 4
Actively or fully engaged or occupied; "busy with her work"; "a busy man"; "too busy to eat lunch".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The receptionist was busy answering phone calls and didn't notice the new arrival.
- The highway was busy with traffic, and the journey took longer than expected.
- As a working mom, Sarah was busy balancing her career and taking care of her children.
- After finishing her breakfast, Emily got busy packing her bags for the trip.
- By the time dinner arrived, Mark was too busy to notice that the doorbell had stopped working.
Antonyms
Related Words
Meaning 5
Crowded with or characterized by much activity; "a very busy week"; "a busy life"; "a busy street"; "a busy seaport".
Classification
All adjective clusters.
Examples
- The city's busy streets were filled with people rushing to and from work.
- She had a busy schedule that day, with meetings and appointments lined up back to back.
- The busy airport was a hub of activity, with flights taking off and landing every few minutes.
- The restaurant was a busy spot for lunch, with a long line of people waiting to be seated.
- The busy harbor was filled with boats and ships of all sizes, coming and going throughout the day.