busy lately

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "busy lately" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a recent period of being occupied or engaged in various activities. Example: "I've been busy lately with work and family commitments." Alternative expressions include "occupied recently" and "engaged lately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He's busy lately.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He said he'd been busy lately.

The New Yorker

France has been uncommonly busy lately.

The Guardian - Opinion

Handel has kept Ms. Schäfer busy lately.

The New York Times - Arts

How did he come to be so busy lately?

The New York Times

Israel has been busy lately trying to improve its global image.

The New York Times

Only we've been very busy lately, so it slipped our mind, but we do apologise".

Independent

I still try to go but have been so busy lately.

The New York Times

Bernstein has been too busy lately on other I.B.M. projects to play much chess with 704.

The New Yorker

Reese told me that he has been too busy lately to bother with newspapers or television.

The New Yorker

Louise Mensch, the Conservative MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, has been very busy lately.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "busy lately" to explain a temporary increase in responsibilities or activities. For example, "I haven't been able to attend the meetings because I've been "busy lately" with the project deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "busy lately" to describe a permanent state of being. It implies a recent, temporary increase in activity, not a constant condition. Instead of saying "I am "busy lately"", if you're always busy consider saying "I am consistently busy."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "busy lately" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a subject. It typically describes a temporary condition of increased activity or engagement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "busy lately" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate a recent period of increased activity or engagement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread applicability. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various communicative purposes. Alternative phrases like "occupied recently" and "engaged recently" offer similar meanings, while understanding the temporary nature of the phrase is crucial for accurate usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupied recently

Focuses on being occupied rather than just busy, implying engagement.

engaged recently

Highlights active participation or involvement in activities.

heavily involved lately

Emphasizes the degree of involvement in recent activities.

tied up recently

Suggests being constrained by commitments.

preoccupied lately

Indicates that thoughts are mainly occupied with something.

active recently

Highlights that you have been doing a lot of activity lately.

swamped lately

Implies being overwhelmed with tasks or responsibilities.

fully booked recently

Suggests that schedule has been full of commitments and appointments.

up to my ears lately

Indicates extreme busyness, often with a negative connotation.

overwhelmed lately

Indicates a feeling of being overburdened and struggling to cope.

FAQs

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

You can use "busy lately" to describe a recent period filled with activities or responsibilities. For example: "He's "busy lately" with writing his new book", or "I've been "busy lately" trying to improve my global image".

What's the difference between "busy lately" and "busy recently"?

The phrases "busy lately" and "busy recently" are nearly interchangeable and share similar meaning. Both indicate a state of being occupied or engaged in activities in the near past. The distinction is minimal, with "busy recently" perhaps sounding slightly more formal.

What can I say instead of "busy lately"?

You can use alternatives like "occupied recently", "engaged recently", or "heavily involved lately" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I have been busy lately"?

Yes, "I have been busy lately" is grammatically correct. It uses the present perfect continuous tense to describe an action (being busy) that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. You could also simply say "I'm "busy now"" depending on context.