busy with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "busy with" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is occupied or engaged in a particular activity or task. Example: "I am currently busy with my research project and cannot attend the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'd always been too busy with business".

Forbes

They're busy with themselves.

The New York Times

Are they busy with hobbies?

The New York Times

They're busy with their own.

Independent

He's busy with other things.

The New Yorker

I'm busy with work.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Hands busy with bag.

The New Yorker

They were all busy with their smartphones.

The New York Times

Other groups were busy with their instruments.

The New York Times

"I keep myself busy with boxing".

The New York Times - Sports

"They all busy with the marching scum".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "busy with" to clearly and concisely indicate someone's engagement or involvement in a specific task or activity. For example, "She is busy with her studies."

Common error

Avoid overuse of "busy with" in close proximity. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "occupied with", "engaged in", or more specific verbs to describe the activity itself.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "busy with" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a verb or noun. It indicates that someone or something is currently engaged or occupied in a particular activity. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Wiki

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "busy with" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that describes someone's engagement or involvement in a particular activity. Ludwig confirms its correctness and widespread usability. It's common across various contexts, especially in news and media, and serves to indicate that someone is actively dedicating their time and attention to a specific task. While versatile, remember to avoid overuse and consider synonyms to enrich your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupied with

Focuses more on the state of being occupied rather than the active engagement.

engaged in

Emphasizes active participation or involvement in an activity.

involved in

Highlights participation or connection to something.

preoccupied with

Suggests a strong focus or absorption in something, often to the exclusion of other things.

working on

Specifically refers to the act of performing labor or effort on a task.

concentrating on

Emphasizes mental focus and effort being directed towards something.

absorbed in

Highlights a state of being completely engrossed or immersed in something.

attending to

Indicates taking care of or dealing with something that requires attention.

dealing with

Refers to the act of managing or handling a situation or task.

handling

Implies managing or controlling a specific task or situation.

FAQs

What does "busy with" mean?

"Busy with" indicates that someone is currently occupied or engaged in a particular activity or task, preventing them from doing something else at that moment.

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

You can use "busy with" to describe what someone is currently occupied with, for example, "I'm "busy with work"" or "She's "busy with her family"".

What are some alternatives to saying "busy with"?

You can use alternatives like "occupied with", "engaged in", "involved in", or "preoccupied with" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "busy with"?

Yes, "busy with" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that someone is occupied or engaged in a particular activity.