busy at work

USAGE SUMMARY

'busy at work' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe someone who is occupied with a task or job. Example sentence: Mary has been busy at work all day, preparing the presentation for tomorrow's meeting.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Well, I'm really busy at work today, but OK".

Independent

Danielson must have been busy at work, Serna figured.

The New York Times - Sports

Busy at work, Mr. Hall had Mr. Candotti check it out.

The New York Times

He is busy at work planning a trip for Turkish businesspeople in Israel.

The New York Times

Outside a crane hummed, busy at work on our billion-dollar renovation.

The New York Times

"She was busy at work and I was busy at work, so I didn't think it was appropriate to ask for her phone number".

The New York Times

I couldn't be bothered to research it all because I was too busy at work.

The Guardian - Money

But Dave Neuzil was busy at work, piling lettuce and tomatoes on submarine sandwiches.

The New York Times

Things got busy at work, and I didn't see Roberto for a while.

The New Yorker

Busy at work, he took a break from hunting during the holiday season.

The New York Times

Increasingly busy at work, he said, he'd felt his commitment to the game lessen.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with a timeframe (e.g., 'until Friday' or 'this afternoon') to provide better clarity for the recipient.

Common error

In high-stakes professional environments, relying solely on "busy at work" can sometimes come across as dismissive. If you are communicating with a supervisor or a key client, it is better to provide a brief specific context or a promise of when you will be free, rather than leaving the excuse open-ended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "busy at work" functions as an adjective phrase where the head adjective "busy" is complemented by the prepositional phrase "at work". According to Ludwig AI, it is standard English and can follow various subjects to describe a state of high activity or unavailability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "busy at work" is an essential component of English communication, noted for its high utility and grammatical correctness. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across 58 high-quality examples, ranging from elite news outlets like The New York Times to specialized scientific publications. It effectively balances being polite yet firm about one's unavailability. Whether used to explain a missed call or to describe a team's progress on a project, its neutral tone ensures it is never out of place in either a professional email or a casual text message. For writers seeking more descriptive alternatives, options like "swamped" or "hard at work" can provide additional nuance depending on the specific context of the workload.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

swamped at the office

Uses a more idiomatic and informal metaphor to suggest being overwhelmed by volume.

buried in work

Emphasizes the heavy volume of tasks through a vivid metaphorical lens.

hard at work

Shifts the focus from being merely occupied to the intensity and diligence of the effort.

slammed with projects

A more colloquial and modern variation often used in fast-paced business environments.

tied up with tasks

Focuses on the lack of availability due to specific professional commitments.

occupied with duties

A more formal and structured way to describe being engaged in job-related activities.

overloaded with assignments

Specifically refers to an excessive amount of delegated work.

pressed for time at the desk

Highlights the time constraint aspect of a heavy workload.

hectic at the workplace

Describes the general environment of the work rather than the individual's state.

engaged in professional activities

A highly formal, almost clinical description of being at work.

FAQs

How to use "busy at work" in a sentence?

You can use it to explain a situation, such as: "I am sorry for the late reply, I have been "busy at work" all morning."

What can I say instead of "busy at work"?

Depending on the intensity, you can use phrases like "swamped", "tied up", or "preoccupied with tasks".

Is "busy at work" formal enough for an email?

Yes, it is considered a neutral and professional phrase suitable for most business correspondence. If you need something more formal, consider "occupied with urgent matters".

What is the difference between "busy at work" and "hard at work"?

While both indicate activity, "busy at work" focuses on the state of being occupied, whereas "hard at work" emphasizes the diligence and effort being put into the tasks.