I was busy with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was busy with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that you were occupied or engaged in a particular activity or task at a specific time in the past. Example: "I couldn't attend the meeting yesterday because I was busy with a project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

"But I was busy with my business, selling flip-flops on the market.

Unicef

I was busy with school stuff.

The New York Times

And I was busy with my work.

The Guardian

I was busy with my kids.

The New York Times

"I was busy with that when the other blasts occurred".

Independent

"She said, 'My, son, I was busy with your hands.' ".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

I'm busy with work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This year, I'm busy with my singing.

The Guardian - Books

I'm busy with my own life.

The Guardian

So I'm busy with that.

The New Yorker

When I'm not constructing, I'm busy with my other obsessions.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was busy with", clearly specify the task or activity that occupied your time to provide context and avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "I was busy" without specifying what you were busy with. This can leave the sentence incomplete and unclear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was busy with" functions as a statement of activity or occupation in the past tense. It typically connects the subject ("I") to the task or activity that consumed their time. Ludwig AI examples showcase its usage in diverse contexts, reaffirming its straightforward grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

13%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was busy with" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed way to express past engagement in activities. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage, especially across News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science contexts. When using "I was busy with", clarity is crucial – always specify what occupied your time. While there are several alternatives such as "I was occupied with" or "I was engaged in", the original phrase maintains a versatile and widely understood means of communicating past activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was occupied with

Replaces "busy" with "occupied", offering a slightly more formal tone.

I was engaged in

Suggests active participation and involvement in an activity.

I was involved in

Highlights participation and being connected to an activity.

I was working on

Focuses on the labor or effort expended on a task.

I was tied up with

Implies that one's time was constrained or committed to something.

I was preoccupied with

Indicates that one's thoughts and attention were primarily focused on something.

I had my hands full with

Suggests being overwhelmed or burdened with multiple tasks.

I devoted my time to

Highlights the allocation of one's time to a specific purpose or activity.

I dedicated myself to

Emphasizes commitment and personal investment in an activity.

I was immersed in

Conveys a sense of being completely absorbed or engrossed in an activity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "I was busy with" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "I was occupied with", "I was engaged in", or "I was involved in". These alternatives offer a slightly more elevated level of formality than "I was busy with".

Is it grammatically correct to say "I was busy with something"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. Using "something" after "I was busy with" implies that you were occupied with an unspecified task or activity. However, it's often better to be specific for clarity.

What's the difference between "I was busy with" and "I was busy doing"?

"I was busy with" is typically followed by a noun (e.g., "I was busy with work"), while "I was busy doing" is followed by a verb (e.g., "I was busy working"). Both are correct, but they have slightly different grammatical structures and implications.

What can I say instead of "I was busy with" to convey being overwhelmed?

If you want to convey that you were overwhelmed, you could say "I had my hands full with" or "I was swamped with" depending on the context.