be rather busy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be rather busy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of being occupied or engaged in activities, often implying a level of busyness that is somewhat significant. Example: "I apologize for not responding sooner; I have been rather busy with work and personal commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Yes, you'd expect him to be rather busy.

The Guardian

Like, for example, for school, color code all your binders, but use only cool colors, like Purple, Teal, Orange, Pink, etc. Also, if you are like Lili, you will be rather busy, so you should have a cute day planner.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

First, they have been rather busy.

The Economist

Unfortunately for the Dodgers, he's rather busy disrupting the Chicago Blackhawks' playoffs.

The New York Times - Sports

A few days later and between rain showers I inspect the moles' handiwork - it seems they have been rather busy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last year Holly published The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting and her third novel is out in August, so she's been rather busy!

The Guardian

My phone was rather busy the other day when one of the members of Ukip's Thanet South branch decided to tell a newspaper that I was standing in that constituency in 2015.

Independent

Out canvassing in Ramsgate on Thursday, he tried to charm and flirt with almost everyone he saw, taking the phone from one woman and telling her husband: "Hi Melvyn, I'm rather busy with your wife at the moment".

The Guardian

Wood Mackenzie, the energy analyst and consultancy based in Edinburgh, has been rather busy.

BBC

So it might depress you to hear that he is rather busy.

TechCrunch

The helicopter that transports the rich and famous from Nice airport to a helipad outside AS Monaco's Stade Louis II in seven minutes flat has been rather busy this week.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be rather busy" to politely indicate that someone is occupied without specifying the exact details of their activities. For instance, "I can't meet today; I'll "be rather busy" with appointments."

Common error

Avoid excessive use of "rather" in very formal writing. While "be rather busy" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound stilted. Opt for alternatives like "be quite busy" or "be deeply involved" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be rather busy" functions as a predicate adjective phrase, describing the state of being occupied or engaged in activities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be rather busy" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a state of being occupied. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered correct and versatile. While suitable for various contexts, it's most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki sources. The phrase conveys a moderate level of busyness and can be effectively used to explain delays or politely decline engagements. Remember to use it judiciously in highly formal writing, considering alternatives for a more polished tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be quite occupied

Replaces "busy" with "occupied" and "rather" with "quite", emphasizing a state of being engaged in activities.

be fairly tied up

Uses the idiom "tied up" to suggest being busy, with "fairly" indicating the degree.

be deeply involved

Focuses on the level of involvement in activities as a measure of busyness.

have a lot on one's plate

An idiomatic expression meaning to have many responsibilities or tasks.

be snowed under

An informal idiom meaning to be overwhelmed with work.

have a hectic schedule

Shifts the focus to the schedule itself being busy, implying the person is busy.

be working flat out

An idiom suggesting working at maximum capacity.

be up to one's ears

An informal idiom meaning to be very busy or overwhelmed.

be overloaded with work

Directly states being overloaded, focusing on the burden of work.

be engrossed in tasks

Emphasizes being absorbed or completely occupied with various tasks.

FAQs

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

You can use "be rather busy" to indicate that someone is occupied or engaged in numerous activities. For example: "I apologize for the delay; I've "been rather busy" with work."

What's a more formal way to say "be rather busy"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "be quite occupied" or "be deeply involved" depending on the context.

What does "be rather busy" imply about someone's schedule?

It implies that their schedule is full or nearly full, and they may have limited time available. The word "rather" suggests a significant level of busyness, but not necessarily complete overwhelm.

Is it correct to say "I am rather busy"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The phrase ""be rather busy"" follows standard English grammar rules and is commonly used in both spoken and written language.