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busy

Syllabification: (bus·y)

Pronunciation: /ˈbizē/

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Definition of busy

adjective (busier, busiest)

having a great deal to do:he had been too busy to enjoy himself there was enough work to keep two people busy
occupied with or concentrating on a particular activity or object of attention:the team members are busy raising money he was busy with preparations
(of a place) full of activity.
excessively detailed or decorated; fussy:they papered the bedroom with a busy pattern of satyrs and dryads
chiefly North American (of a telephone line) engaged.

verb (busies, busying, busied)

[with object] (busy oneself)

keep occupied:she busied herself with her new home

Derivatives

busyness

Origin:

Old English bisgian (verb), bisig (noun); related to Dutch bezig

Spelling rule

If a word ends in a consonant plus -y, change the -y to an -i before adding any ending (unless the ending already begins with an -i): (busier, busiest).

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Definition of busy in the British & World English dictionary

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Other

busy

adjective (busier, busiest)

verb (busies, busying, busied)

Derivatives

busyness

Origin:

Spelling rule

busy in other Oxford dictionaries

Nearby words

More results for busy

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