Standard Lemma guide

busily

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: B IH1 Z AH0 L IY0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a busy manner; actively.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

in a busy manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they were busily engaged in buying souvenirs

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English busily, busiliche, bisili, bisiliche, equivalent to busy + -ly.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Georgian: საქმიანად (sakmianad) — in a busy manner
  • Italian: intentamente — in a busy manner
  • Russian: хлопотли́во (xlopotlívo) — in a busy manner