been busy

USAGE SUMMARY

"been busy" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would typically use this phrase to indicate that you have recently been occupied or preoccupied with something. For example, you could say, "I'm sorry I haven't been able to get back to you – I've been busy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

He's always been busy.

The New York Times

It's been busy.

The New Yorker

Others have been busy.

The New York Times

Franklin had been busy.

The New York Times

The man's been busy.

Independent

But you've been busy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

He's never been busier.

Independent

"The F.B.I. is busy".

The New Yorker

"All circuits were busy.

The New Yorker

"Everybody is busy.

The New Yorker

We're busy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "been busy" with a specific time frame to provide more clarity. For instance, "I've been busy this week" is more informative than simply "I've been busy".

Common error

Avoid overusing "been busy" as a generic excuse. If you frequently use it without providing context or making an effort to address the underlying issue, it can come across as insincere or dismissive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been busy" functions as part of the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is considered a correct and usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "been busy" is a very common and grammatically sound way to express recent activity or occupation. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to convey a state of engagement, often to explain current circumstances. While alternatives like "occupied lately" or "tied up" exist, "been busy" remains a versatile and widely understood expression. However, overuse should be avoided to maintain sincerity. When you need to indicate recent activity or occupation, remember "been busy" is readily available and understandable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupied lately

Focuses on recent occupation.

quite occupied

Emphasizes a state of being busy.

engaged recently

Highlights recent engagement.

preoccupied these days

Emphasizes current state of preoccupation.

had a lot on my plate

Idiomatic expression; highlights responsibility.

tied up lately

Suggests being bound by commitments.

up to my ears in work

More informal; emphasizes being overwhelmed with work.

swamped with tasks

Highlights being overwhelmed by tasks.

consumed with activities

Implies all-encompassing involvement.

involved in many projects

Focuses on project involvement.

FAQs

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

You can use "been busy" to indicate recent activity, such as "I've "been busy" with work lately" or "The team has "been busy" preparing for the conference".

What's a more formal alternative to "been busy"?

For a more formal setting, you might say "I have "been occupied" with various responsibilities" or "I have "been engaged" in several projects".

Is it correct to say "was busy" instead of "been busy"?

Yes, "was busy" is correct, but it refers to a specific point in the past. "I was busy yesterday" indicates you were occupied at that time, whereas "I've "been busy"" implies a period of recent activity.

What can I say instead of "I've been busy" to avoid sounding repetitive?

Alternatives include "I've "had a lot on my plate"", "I've "been tied up"", or "I've "been swamped"", depending on the specific context.