I. ˈbi-zē adjective
( busi·er ; -est )
Etymology: Middle English bisy, from Old English bisig; akin to Middle Dutch & Middle Low German besich busy
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : engaged in action : occupied
b. : being in use
found the telephone busy
2. : full of activity : bustling
a busy seaport
3. : foolishly or intrusively active : meddling
4. : full of distracting detail
a busy design
• busi·ly ˈbi-zə-lē adverb
• busy·ness ˈbi-zē-nəs noun
Synonyms:
busy , industrious , diligent , assiduous , sedulous mean actively engaged or occupied. busy chiefly stresses activity as opposed to idleness or leisure
too busy to spend time with the children
industrious implies characteristic or habitual devotion to work
industrious employees
diligent suggests earnest application to some specific object or pursuit
very diligent in her pursuit of a degree
assiduous stresses careful and unremitting application
assiduous practice
sedulous implies painstaking and persevering application
a sedulous investigation of the murder
II. verb
( bus·ied ; busy·ing )
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
: to make busy : occupy
intransitive verb
: bustle
small boats busied to and fro — Quentin Crewe