busy

Everyday

1. Having a lot to do; working on something now: «Mum is busy cooking». tree →
2. Full of people, traffic or activity: a busy road, a busy shop. tree →
3. Of a phone line: in use, engaged (US: busy; UK: engaged). tree →
4. Of a picture or pattern: with too many details. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life: a busy day, a busy schedule; asking «Are you busy?» politely before interrupting. In road safety: busy roads are dangerous — cross only at crossings, hold an adult's hand, stop, look and listen. In nature: «as busy as a bee». Phrases: busy with, busy doing, keep busy, a busy road, as busy as a bee, get busy, busybody.

Examples

• I'm busy doing my homework. tree →
• Are you busy? Can I ask you something? tree →
• Cross the busy road at the zebra crossing. tree →
• Saturday is the busiest day at the shop. tree →
• The bees were busy collecting pollen. tree →
• Keep busy and the time will go faster. tree →
• The line is busy — try again later. tree →
• My dad has a busy job. tree →
• See how busy all my guests are.” tree →

Note

Comparisons: busier, busiest (y → i). Say «BIZ-ee» — the u sounds like i. «Business» comes from busy. «Busy doing» (busy reading), «busy with» (busy with work). Opposites: free, quiet, idle.

In Jewish tradition

Here "busy" means occupied with some task, so that the man's attention was elsewhere.

Interpretation. The story is a parable told to King Ahab. Tradition reads it as showing how carelessness in a duty brings judgment, and how Ahab condemned himself by his own answer.

Examples

• And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone.' And the king of Israel said unto him: 'So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.' (Prophets 1KI.20.40, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Comparisons: busier, busiest (y → i). Say «BIZ-ee» — the u sounds like i. «Business» comes from busy. «Busy doing» (busy reading), «busy with» (busy with work). Opposites: free, quiet, idle.