busy

Adjective

• (of facilities such as telephones or lavatories) unavailable for use by anyone else or indicating unavailability; (`engaged' is a British term for a busy telephone line)
  • her line is busy
    
  • receptionists' telephones are always engaged
    
  • the lavatory is in use
    
  • kept getting a busy signal
    

• crowded with or characterized by much activity
  • a very busy week
    
  • a busy life
    
  • a busy street
    
  • a busy seaport
    

• intrusive in a meddling or offensive manner
  • an interfering old woman
    
  • bustling about self-importantly making an officious nuisance of himself
    
  • busy about other people's business
    

• overcrowded or cluttered with detail
  • a busy painting
    
  • a fussy design
    

• actively or fully engaged or occupied
  • busy with her work
    
  • a busy man
    
  • too busy to eat lunch
    

Verb

• keep busy with
  • She busies herself with her butterfly collection
    

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  engaged , in use(p) , interfering , meddlesome , meddling , officious , busybodied , fussy , occupy