a rather busy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a rather busy" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a person or a place that is busier than usual or more than what is expected. For example: The library was a rather busy place today.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The improvements have been noted by owners and those who make a rather busy living working on the cars.

The New York Times

Now we have a rather busy schedule to get our data analysed and get the detector and software ready for the next LHC run.

The Guardian

This will be a rather busy week in the political world.

Huffington Post

That's the first time I saw Józef, standing next to the bar, looking like a rather busy businessman and host – greeting customers and filling in shipment forms.

Vice

That's the first time I saw Józef, standing next to the bar, looking like a rather busy businessman and host greeting customers and filling in shipment forms.

Vice

Although the mean demand and capacity remain constant, Figure 1 reveals that what previously appeared as an underutilized process is in reality a rather busy place.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

You go into a rehearsal room, which is a sort of atom, and then a lot of these rather busy particles, the actors, do their work and circle around the nucleus of a good text.

The New York Times

The new album by the saxophonist David Sanchez, "Melaza" (Columbia/Sony), is full of 16th-note runs, played by Mr. Sanchez and the alto-saxophonist Miguel Zenon, as they go through hairpin turns of Latin rhythmic accent; the writing is frequently complicated, in a jazz sense, and rather busy.

The New York Times - Arts

Being a Saturday night, Moondoo was rather busy throughout and Rone's excellent music kept the crowd captivated right up to the very end of his performance.

Vice

Hard to get a decent place to live in, everybody rather busy".

The New Yorker

Mr. Rhode's strangely haunting, mostly black-and-white and rather busy video was shown on a screen, surrounded by five decorative panels that looked like a theater set, while Mr. Andsnes, almost in the shadows, played Mussorgsky's popular, technically daunting score.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a rather busy" to describe situations that are unexpectedly or moderately busy. It adds a touch of understatement.

Common error

Avoid using "a rather busy" excessively in your writing. Overuse can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Vary your descriptions with synonyms like "quite occupied" or "extremely active" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a rather busy" typically functions as a pre-modifying adjective phrase used to describe a noun, indicating a state of being occupied or actively engaged. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples from Ludwig illustrate its use in describing places, people, or periods of time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

17%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

16%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a rather busy" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase that describes a moderate level of activity or occupation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is applicable in various contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific discussions. While not as common as "very busy", it offers a nuanced way to convey that something is more occupied than expected. While the phrase is grammatically sound, its frequency in written and spoken English is uncommon. Using this phrase sparingly can add a touch of understatement to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite occupied

Emphasizes being occupied or engaged.

extremely active

Highlights the level of activity.

considerably engaged

Focuses on the degree of involvement.

very hectic

Conveys a sense of rush and intensity.

exceptionally full

Highlights the extent to which something is filled with activity.

incredibly demanding

Emphasizes the pressure and requirements.

noticeably swamped

Conveys being overwhelmed with tasks.

particularly tied up

Focuses on being unavailable due to commitments.

unusually preoccupied

Highlights the mental state of being absorbed in thoughts or tasks.

remarkably overloaded

Emphasizes the burden of having too much to handle.

FAQs

How can I use "a rather busy" in a sentence?

You can use "a rather busy" to describe a person, place, or time that is more occupied than expected. For example, "The office was "a rather busy" place this morning".

What's a synonym for "a rather busy"?

Alternatives include "quite occupied", "extremely active", or "very hectic", depending on the specific context.

Is "a rather busy" formal or informal?

"A rather busy" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

How does "a rather busy" compare to "very busy"?

"A rather busy" suggests a moderate level of busyness, possibly more than anticipated, while "very busy" implies a higher, more intense level of activity. The difference is in the degree of emphasis.