become busy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'become busy' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe when a situation or place suddenly becomes active or more populated with people or activity. For example: "The city became busy as people started heading home from work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Like other call-in centers, it can become busy and put callers on hold.

The New York Times

We used to fish together often, but life has become busy.

The New York Times

But, by 1920, the last year that a Cup event was held here, the harbors had become busy and polluted, and sailors' patience with the relatively shallow and narrow waters of the Hudson River waned.

The New Yorker

(ii) m is a multiplier added to avoid collisions when the networks become busy and (1) expires.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

If I were in an elevator with a colleague, he would become busy pouring over a paper or talking intently with a student.

Chemistry Central Journal

They'd gotten married, had kids, become busy.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

When you're building a business, you become busier.

Huffington Post

The contest calendar has become busier.

The New York Times - Sports

In the last few years the town has become busier.

The New York Times

These Midland waterways will become busier if Chris gets his way.

The Guardian - Travel

KLM's Schiphol hub is not such an attractive alternative to Heathrow as it used to be, now that it has become busier.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "become busy" to clearly indicate a transition from a state of inactivity to one of activity or increased occupation. It's suitable for describing changes in personal schedules, traffic conditions, or business operations.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice when using "become busy". Instead of saying 'The project has become busy with many tasks', opt for 'We made the project busy by assigning many tasks' for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "become busy" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change of state. It describes the process of transitioning from a state of inactivity or less activity to one of more activity or occupation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

32%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "become busy" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase that signifies a transition to a more active state. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and the provided examples demonstrate its versatility across contexts like news, wiki articles, and scientific papers. While suitable for both formal and informal communication, it's important to be mindful of the surrounding sentence structure, avoiding passive voice overuse. Consider alternatives like "get swamped" or "become occupied" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become occupied

Highlights being filled with activity or tasks, implying a state of being engaged.

get swamped

Emphasizes being overwhelmed with tasks or activities, suggesting a higher level of busyness.

get tied up

Suggests being restricted or committed due to busyness, often unexpectedly.

be snowed under

Similar to 'get swamped', indicates being buried under a heavy workload.

fill one's time

Focuses on using time with activities, rather than just an increase in activity.

be up to one's ears

Implies being extremely busy, almost to the point of being overwhelmed.

have a lot on one's plate

Expresses having many responsibilities or tasks, implying pressure.

have one's hands full

Similar to 'have a lot on one's plate', this phrase focuses on the difficulty.

enter a period of increased activity

A more formal way to describe a phase where busyness increases.

find oneself with less free time

Suggests that busyness is a consequence of the reduction of time available.

FAQs

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

You can use "become busy" to describe a transition to a state of increased activity. For instance, "The office "became busy" as employees arrived for the morning shift".

What are some alternatives to "become busy"?

Alternatives include "get swamped", "become occupied", or "find oneself with less free time", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "become busy" or "get busy"?

"Become busy" and "get busy" are both acceptable, but they have slightly different implications. "Get busy" often implies a conscious decision to start working, while "become busy" suggests a state that arises naturally from circumstances.

What's the difference between "become busy" and "became busier"?

"Become busy" indicates a simple transition to a state of being busy. "Became busier" implies a comparison, indicating an increase in busyness from a previous state. Thus, "became busier" suggests there was some amount of activity to begin with.