I stayed busy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I stayed busy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a period of time when you were actively engaged in tasks or activities. Example: "During the summer, I stayed busy with various projects and volunteer work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In between, I stayed busy.

The New York Times - Travel

"I stayed busy for two years, but I never made up my mind on a new career.

The New York Times - Sports

But I'm not sorry that I did them, because I made a living and I have a nice house and I stayed busy.

The Guardian - Film

Under her watchful eye, I stayed busy pushing gurneys, administering CPR and shouting out "Stat!" during crises, which tended to occur during sweeps weeks.

The New York Times - Travel

All week, Lara and I stayed busy and kind of ground out some work while flipping channels, crying a little, cooking a putrid fish recipe and going to bed early.

The New York Times - Magazine

I wrote a book, I took our daughter on trips, I stayed busy so I wouldn't have to think about my life without a husband.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Most of all, I stay busy.

The New York Times - Health

I'm glad I stay busy, because I think of you and home enough as it is.... Love, Gene American casualties haven't been limited to the battlefield.

The New York Times

Currently, I stay busy with a mix of all of the above: travelling on expeditions, film shoots, and art projects around the planet as part of the North Face athlete team and Camp 4 Collective, the production company I co-founded.

The New Yorker

Keep the darkness at bay? Mostly, I stay busy and try to avoid the news.

Huffington Post

I stay busy with clients who are still looking for the place without any trouble.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When elaborating on the ways you remained busy, be specific about your tasks or activities.

Common error

Avoid using "I stayed busy" repeatedly in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using synonyms or more descriptive phrases to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I stayed busy" primarily functions as a statement describing a state of being actively engaged or occupied. As shown in Ludwig, it conveys that the subject maintained a condition of busyness over a period of time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I stayed busy" is a grammatically sound and straightforward way to express that you were actively engaged or occupied during a certain period. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While the phrase is simple, it's important to provide context by specifying what kept you busy. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources and is generally neutral in tone. To avoid repetition, consider using synonyms like "I kept occupied" or "I remained active". By following these guidelines, you can effectively and clearly communicate your state of busyness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I kept occupied

Replaces "stayed busy" with "kept occupied", focusing on maintaining a state of being busy.

I was fully occupied

Focuses on being completely engaged or busy.

I remained active

Shifts the focus to maintaining activity rather than explicitly stating busyness.

I busied myself

Emphasizes the action of making oneself busy.

I was constantly engaged

Highlights continuous involvement in activities.

I was never idle

Highlights the absence of downtime and continuous activity.

I filled my time

Focuses on using time to be occupied.

I had a lot on my plate

Implies being busy with numerous responsibilities or tasks.

I had my hands full

Indicates being busy managing many tasks or responsibilities.

I was up to my ears in work

Suggests being overwhelmed with work and therefore busy.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I stayed busy"?

You can use alternatives like "I kept occupied", "I remained active", or "I busied myself" depending on the context.

Is "I stayed busy" formal or informal?

The phrase "I stayed busy" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal situations might benefit from more descriptive language.

How can I make "I stayed busy" more descriptive?

Instead of just saying "I stayed busy", specify what kept you busy. For example, "I stayed busy with volunteer work and home improvement projects" provides more detail.

Which is correct, "I stayed busy" or "I was staying busy"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but "I stayed busy" implies a completed period of busyness, while "I was staying busy" suggests an ongoing state of busyness in the past. Choose the phrase that best fits the context.