[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/busy/)

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# busy

adjective (busy, busier, busiest); verb (busy yourself — to keep busy)

«busy» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Having a lot to do; working on something now: «Mum is busy cooking». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#m1)
2. Full of people, traffic or activity: a busy road, a busy shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#m2)
3. Of a phone line: in use, engaged (US: busy; UK: engaged). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#m3)
4. Of a picture or pattern: with too many details. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#m4)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x1)
- Are you busy? Can I ask you something? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x2)
- Cross the busy road at the zebra crossing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x3)
- Saturday is the busiest day at the shop. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x4)
- The bees were busy collecting pollen. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x5)
- Keep busy and the time will go faster. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x6)
- The line is busy — try again later. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x7)
- My dad has a busy job. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x8)
- See how busy all my guests are.” [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/#x9)

### 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 →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/busy/#x1)

### 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.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «busy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/B/busy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«busy» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/busy.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «busy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/B/busy/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«busy» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/busy.html) on Mova free.