# busy

/ˈbɪzi/ (US) · /bˈɪzi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/busy
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. having much to do

adjective · CEFR A1

having a lot of work or many things to do.

For teachers: actively engaged in an activity or preoccupied with tasks.

- I am sorry I cannot talk right now because I am very busy.
- The department head is currently too busy preparing the annual budget to review any new project proposals this week.

### 2. crowded or active

adjective · CEFR A2

full of people, traffic, or activity.

For teachers: characterised by a high volume of activity, movement, or people.

- The city centre is always busy on Saturday mornings.
- The intersection became increasingly busy as commuters rushed to reach the station before the final express train departed.

### 3. too detailed

adjective · CEFR B2

having too many shapes, colours, or details so that it is hard to look at.

For teachers: excessively detailed or cluttered, often to the point of being visually distracting.

- I think that wallpaper is too busy for such a small room.
- The graphic designer suggested simplifying the layout, arguing that the current version was far too busy to effectively communicate the core message.

### 4. to keep occupied

verb · CEFR B2

to keep yourself or someone else working on a task.

For teachers: to make oneself or another person busy; frequently used reflexively with 'with'.

- She busied herself with the housework to avoid thinking about the news.
- While waiting for the results, he busied himself by reorganising his entire digital filing system to pass the time.

### 5. police officer

noun · CEFR C1 · British English · Slang · Informal

a slang word for a police officer.

For teachers: a slang term for a police officer, often carrying a negative or disrespectful tone.

- He ran away as soon as he saw the busies coming around the corner.
- The local youths kept a sharp lookout for the busies while they gathered in the abandoned car park after dark.

Teaching tip: This term is specific to British English and is generally considered derogatory; learners should avoid using it in polite company.

## Examples

- I am very busy at work today.
- The city center is always busy on Saturday mornings because everyone goes shopping at the same time.
- A busy schedule often forces professionals to prioritize urgent tasks over important long-term goals, leading to a cycle of constant reaction rather than proactive planning.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am busy to do my homework" but "I am busy doing my homework" — When followed by another action, use the -ing form (gerund) instead of the infinitive with 'to'.

## Usage notes

- Typically used as a predicative adjective after a linking verb or as an attributive adjective before a noun.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.