Antonyms for busy
| Grammar : Adj |
| Spell : biz-ee |
| Phonetic Transcription : ˈbɪz i |
Definition of busy
Origin :- Old English bisig "careful, anxious," later "continually employed or occupied," cognate with Old Dutch bezich, Low German besig; no known connection with any other Germanic or Indo-European language. Still pronounced as in Middle English, but for some unclear reason the spelling shifted to -u- in 15c.
- The notion of "anxiousness" has drained from the word since Middle English. Often in a bad sense in early Modern English, "prying, meddlesome" (preserved in busybody). The word was a euphemism for "sexually active" in 17c. Of telephone lines, 1893. Of display work, "excessively detailed, visually cluttered," 1903.
- adj engaged, at work
- adj active, on the go
- adj nosy, impertinent
- Plato perceived that the contemplative maiden was busy with memories of the past.
- Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
- In these solitary tours he was busy and happy, working and playing.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- He was busy almost half an hour, while Uncle Peter smoked in silence.
- Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
- All busy preparing for a start for the Head of the Bight to-morrow.
- Extract from : « Explorations in Australia » by John Forrest
- There is a look of industrious nothingness about him, such as busy dogs have.
- Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
- Both sexes, and all ages, are busy at all times in the mysteries of the gaming-table.
- Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
- They only thought a lawyer could help them--but I'm far too busy--of course I decline.
- Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke
- He watched the face of the other keenly, but the old man was busy filling his pipe.
- Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
- For her part, she was busy and could not spare time to gossip.
- Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
- From that day for nearly a fortnight there were busy doings in the house.
- Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald
Synonyms for busy
- active
- already taken
- assiduous
- at it
- buried
- bustling
- busy as a beaver
- butting in
- curious
- diligent
- employed
- energetic
- engaged
- engrossed
- forward
- full
- fussy
- having a full plate
- having enough on one's plate
- having fish to fry
- having many irons in the fire
- hectic
- humming
- hustling
- in a meeting
- in conference
- in someone else's possession
- in the field
- in the laboratory
- industrious
- inquisitive
- interfering
- intrusive
- lively
- meddlesome
- meddling
- nebby
- obtrusive
- occupied
- officious
- on assignment
- on duty
- on the go
- overloaded
- persevering
- popping
- prying
- pushy
- restless
- slaving
- snoopy
- snowed
- stirring
- strenuous
- swamped
- tied up
- tireless
- tiring
- troublesome
- unavailable
- up to one's ears
- with a customer
- working
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019