/ ˈbɪzi; NAmE / adjective , verb
■ adjective
( busier , busi·est )
DOING STH
1.
busy (with sth/sb) having a lot to do; perhaps not free to do sth else because you are working on sth :
Are you busy tonight?
Kate's busy with her homework.
I'm afraid the doctor is busy at the moment. Can he call you back?
I'll be too busy to come to the meeting.
The principal is a very busy woman.
She was always too busy to listen.
a very busy life
2.
busy (doing sth) spending a lot of time on sth :
James is busy practising for the school concert.
Let's get busy with the clearing up.
PLACE
3.
full of people, activity, vehicles, etc. :
a busy main road
Victoria is one of London's busiest stations.
PERIOD OF TIME
4.
full of work and activity :
Have you had a busy day?
This is one of the busiest times of the year for the department.
TELEPHONE
5.
( especially NAmE ) being used
SYN engaged :
The line is busy—I'll try again later.
the busy signal
PATTERN / DESIGN
6.
too full of small details
► busily adverb :
He was busily engaged repairing his bike.
•
IDIOMS
- as busy as a bee
- keep yourself busy
■ verb
( busies , busy·ing , busied , busied ) ~ yourself (with sth) | ~ yourself (in / with) doing sth to fill your time doing an activity or a task :
[ vn -ing ]
While we talked, Bill busied himself fixing lunch.
[ vn ]
She busied herself with the preparations for the party.
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig , of unknown origin.