be busy doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be busy doing" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe a person who is actively engaged in an activity or task. For example, "I was busy doing my homework when my brother stopped by for a visit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I think you might be busy doing chatshows on the awards circuit for Anna Karenina, you know.

The Guardian - Film

Mr. Kuby predicted that the investigations would stall in the short term, because many prosecutors working the cases would be busy doing their résumés.

The New York Times

I hope he's not reading too much of it -- he should be busy doing other things, like running the country and maybe even keeping us out of war.

The New York Times - Magazine

And when this war is over, the people of Misurata will be busy doing what nation building is all about — with a glass of milk in the morning to get the citizenry on its way.

The New York Times

But with Democrats and Republicans both aiming to raise upwards of $750 million by the time the election is done, the President will also be busy doing what all of his recent predecessors have done: hitting up rich people for donations.

The New Yorker

My advice to pre-retirees, based on the TIAA survey: Start figuring out which activities you'll be busy doing when you retire.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

They were busy doing what needs doing.

The New York Times

Tom Waits has been busy doing the dishes.

The New York Times

We were busy doing other work".

The New York Times

Everyone is busy doing something.

The Guardian

But at the time I was busy doing this, he was busy doing that.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be busy doing" to clearly communicate that someone is actively engaged in a specific action, implying a commitment of time and energy. For example: "She will "be busy doing" research for the next few months".

Common error

Avoid using "be busy doing" in passive constructions. Instead of saying "Mistakes were being busy done", rephrase it to be active: "They were "busy doing" mistakes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be busy doing" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that someone is currently engaged in a particular activity. Ludwig AI provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage across various contexts, emphasizing its role in describing ongoing actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

34%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be busy doing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe someone actively engaged in a task. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across different contexts. While generally neutral in register, it's important to avoid overuse in passive voice constructions. Alternatives such as "be occupied with" or "be engaged in" can offer subtle differences in meaning. Predominantly found in news and media sources, "be busy doing" effectively communicates a state of active involvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be engaged in

This phrase suggests active participation or involvement in a particular activity or task.

be involved in

Similar to 'be engaged in', but may also imply a deeper level of commitment or connection.

be occupied with

This alternative implies that someone's time or attention is completely taken up by something.

be dedicating time to

Implies a conscious effort to spend time on a specific activity.

be working on

This suggests effort being directed towards a specific task or project.

be immersed in

Suggests a deep level of involvement and absorption in an activity.

be pouring energy into

Highlights the effort and enthusiasm someone is investing in an activity.

be tied up with

This implies that someone is so busy with something that they are unable to do other things.

be preoccupied with

This implies that someone's thoughts and attention are mainly focused on something.

have one's hands full with

This idiom suggests that someone is very busy with many different tasks or responsibilities.

FAQs

How can I use "be busy doing" in a sentence?

You can use "be busy doing" to describe someone actively engaged in an activity. For example, "He will "be busy preparing" for the presentation all day".

What are some alternatives to "be busy doing"?

Alternatives include "be occupied with", "be engaged in", or "be involved in", depending on the context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "is busy to do" instead of "is busy doing"?

No, "is busy to do" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "is "busy doing"", where "doing" is a gerund (verb acting as a noun) that complements the verb "be" and adjective "busy".

What's the difference between "be busy doing" and "be active doing"?

"Be busy doing" implies a state of being occupied with a specific task, while "be active doing" ( "be active doing" ) suggests a general state of being engaged in physical or mental activities. The former is more focused, whereas the latter is more broad.