bustling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbəs-liŋ How to pronounce bustling (audio)
Definition of bustlingnext
1
as in busy
involved in often constant activity a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season

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bustling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bustle
1
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop

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2
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bustling
Adjective
Walk Into a Bar A bustling hub of multicultural film discourse each July, McKibbins’ Irish Pub in Montreal (the one by Concordia University, not Cinema L’Amor) is a pretty good time. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026 West Side homeless encampment At the bustling encampment on West 45th Street at 11th Avenue, people shave with water from a hydrant and use strips of plastic and cardboard to find shade. — Dave Carlin, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Verb
Whitechapel was bustling, crowded, and poor, a place where vulnerable women might be found. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026 These two would make the Sultan’s Kebab empire number six total, with other branches in Danville, Livermore, Campbell and Pleasanton – the latter being the original, which always seems to be bustling. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bustling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bustling
  1. busy
  2. buzzing
  3. bursting
  4. hurrying
  5. engaged
  6. vibrant
  7. teeming
  8. traveling
Adjective
  • Then, the Iran war started, resulting in massive disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, once one of the world's busiest oil-shipping lanes.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Palacios brings plenty to Ipswich with and without the ball, the statement signing in a busy window who could go a long way to keeping them up.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of busy
Adjective
  • Tucked away in a private backyard in Ashford, one of the state’s few apitherapy huts allows people to breathe in air from thousands of buzzing bees.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Over the decades, the equipment evolved into today’s version of the sport, featuring a beeping softball and four-foot-tall buzzing foam bases that guide players through sound.
    — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of buzzing
Verb
  • Sip local wines like Norton or Vignoles, hop around downtown, or wander through orchards bursting with ripe apples while leaves crunch underfoot.
    — Taryn Shorr-Mckee, Midwest Living, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Forever Cemetery, where John Carpenter’s shape-shifting, stomach-bursting masterpiece comes alive on All Hallows’ Eve.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of bursting
Verb
  • That’s how Drake Maye ended his latest two-minute drill at Patriots training camp Monday, a meandering march that began around midfield and ended with Maye hurrying the offense to the 3-yard line with 10 seconds on the clock.
    — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
Definition of hurrying
Adjective
  • But writing notes by hand requires a more engaged mental filter.
    — Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • By creating measurable value today, employees become more engaged in their roles.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of engaged
Adjective
  • Last Air in Moscow was driven by its bustling, vibrant sense of community.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The vibrant floral motifs and creamy white hue ooze sophistication, while the dainty size is perfect for carrying your phone, keys, lipstick, and wallet.
    — Alyssa Morin, InStyle, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of vibrant
Verb
  • Johnson County, with Iowa City and its teeming suburbs, and Scott County's economically diverse cities of Davenport and Bettendorf help make the district among the most competitive in the country.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Great teeming swarms of them, with an occasional locust seen in big buggy close-up, and shots of flying from a locust’s-eye view (the Steadicam had just been invented).
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of teeming
Verb
  • Jiwan Jyoti, a US citizen, was traveling with Himalayan Glacier Adventure and Travel Company and has been listed by the group as missing.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Go Beyond the 4x4 Of course, traveling by Icelandic truck is part of the thrill, but the adventure extends well beyond the vehicle itself.
    — Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of traveling

Browse Nearby Words

bustles
bustling
busts
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Cite this Entry

“Bustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bustling. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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