TOP

Definition of busy adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

busy

adjective
 
 
/ˈbɪzi/
 
/ˈbɪzi/
(comparative busier, superlative busiest)
Idioms
jump to other results

    doing something

  1.  
     having a lot to do; perhaps not free to do something else because you are working on something
    • Are you busy tonight?
    • I'm afraid the doctor is busy at the moment. Can he call you back?
    • The principal is a very busy woman.
    • I'll be too busy to come to the meeting.
    • She was always too busy to listen.
    • I've got enough work to keep you busy.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • look
    • seem
    • …
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    • …
    preposition
    • with
    See full entry
  2.  
     giving all your attention and effort to a particular activity
    • busy doing something James is busy practising for the school concert.
    • They were busy enjoying themselves at the party.
    • busy with something/somebody Kate's busy with her homework.
    • Let's get busy with the clearing up.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs
    • be
    • look
    • seem
    • …
    adverb
    • extremely
    • fairly
    • very
    • …
    preposition
    • with
    See full entry
    3.

    period of time

  3.  
     full of work and activity
    • Have you had a busy day?
    • I have a very busy schedule.
    • This is one of the busiest times of the year for the department.
    • We've got a busy week ahead of us.
    • We had a busy weekend lined up.
    • a very busy life
    • Things are getting really busy now.
    4.

    place

  4.  
     full of people, activity, vehicles, etc.
    • a busy road/street
    • The place gets very busy at lunchtimes.
    • We have to cross a busy main road to get to school.
    • Victoria is one of London's busiest stations.
    5.

    phone line

  5.  
     (especially North American English) being used synonym engaged
    • The line is busy—I'll try again later.
    • the busy signal
    Collocations PhonesPhonesMaking and receiving phone calls
    • the phone/​telephone rings
    • answer/​pick up/​hang up the phone/​telephone
    • lift/​pick up/​hold/​replace the receiver
    • dial a (phone/​extension/​wrong) number/​an area code
    • call somebody/​talk (to somebody)/speak (to somebody) on the phone/​telephone; from home/​work/​the office
    • make/​get/​receive a phone call
    • take the phone off the hook (= remove the receiver so that the phone does not ring)
    • the line is (British English) engaged/ (especially North American English) busy
    • the phones have been (North American English) ringing off the hook (= ringing frequently)
    • put somebody through/​get through to the person you want to speak to
    • put somebody on hold (= so that they must wait for the person they want to speak to)
    • call from/​use a landline
    Mobile/​cell phones
    • be/​talk on a (both British English) mobile phone/​mobile/(especially North American English) cell phone/(informal, especially North American English) cell
    • use/​answer/​call (somebody on)/get a message on your mobile phone/​mobile/​cell phone/​cell
    • switch/​turn on/​off your mobile phone/​mobile/​cell phone/​cell
    • charge/​recharge your mobile phone/​mobile/​cell phone/​cell
    • a mobile/​cell phone is on/​is off/​rings/​goes off
    • (British English) top up your mobile/​cell (phone)
    • send/​receive a text (message)/an SMS (message)/a fax
    • insert/​remove/​change a SIM card
    6.

    pattern/design

  6. too full of small details
    • This wallpaper is too busy for the bedroom.
    7. Word OriginOld English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig, of unknown origin.
See busy in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee busy in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: busy

Nearby words

trait
noun
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 5000
B2
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day