awfully busy

USAGE SUMMARY

"awfully busy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone who is very busy. For example, "He's been awfully busy lately with his job search."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

But Liz is awfully busy.

The New York Times - Books

The nets had an awfully busy night.

The New York Times - Sports

Meanwhile, it does keep you awfully busy.

The New Yorker

Besides being sweet, the dishes can be awfully busy.

The New Yorker

I'm awfully busy, but so was Mother Hubbard.

The New York Times

THE STATEMENT -- For a man who turned 70 this year, Michael Caine is awfully busy.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Be warned that it is a tiny space, with only 34 seats, and awfully noisy when busy.

The New York Times

Instead, he gets to put a 10-1 victory to stave off elimination to the Tigers on his résumé, and the Yankees can keep claiming to have believed in him all along, although as Joel Sherman writes in The New York Post, that bullpen got busy awfully quickly every time Burnett so much as scrunched his nose.

The New York Times

Awfully wrong".

The New York Times - Magazine

Awfully quick.

The New Yorker

Awfully good.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "awfully busy" to express a high degree of busyness, especially when emphasizing that someone's schedule is surprisingly full. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "awfully busy" is acceptable, overuse in formal contexts may sound less professional. Opt for alternatives like "extremely occupied" or "heavily engaged" for a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "awfully busy" functions as an adverb-adjective combination modifying a noun or pronoun. It intensifies the state of being busy. Ludwig provides several examples where the phrase describes people, organizations, or even abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "awfully busy" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to describe someone or something as being very busy. According to Ludwig, the phrase is common in News & Media. While generally neutral in register, it's important to consider the context and audience. In more formal settings, alternatives such as "extremely occupied" or "heavily engaged" may be more appropriate. Understanding these nuances will help ensure effective and professional communication. The choice of expression depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely occupied

Emphasizes the state of being occupied but uses a different adverb.

incredibly busy

Replaces "awfully" with "incredibly", maintaining a similar level of intensity.

very occupied

Uses a more straightforward and common adjective.

heavily engaged

Focuses on the engagement in activities, implying busyness.

fully occupied

Indicates complete engagement, leaving no room for other activities.

deeply involved

Highlights involvement as the reason of being busy.

up to one's ears

An idiomatic expression meaning extremely busy.

swamped with work

Focuses on the overwhelming amount of work causing busyness.

tied up

Suggests being busy due to commitments.

overwhelmed with tasks

Stresses the burden of multiple tasks causing busyness.

FAQs

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

You can use "awfully busy" to describe someone who has a lot to do. For example, "He's been awfully busy lately with his job search."

What phrases can I use instead of "awfully busy"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely occupied", "incredibly busy", or "very occupied" depending on the context.

Is "awfully busy" appropriate for formal writing?

While acceptable, it might be better to use more formal alternatives like "heavily engaged" or "fully occupied" in formal contexts.

What's the difference between "awfully busy" and "very busy"?

"Awfully busy" implies a slightly higher degree of busyness compared to "very busy". "Awfully" intensifies the adjective, suggesting a surprisingly or notably full schedule.