busy with something

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "busy with something" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone is occupied or engaged in a particular task or activity. Example: "I'm sorry, I can't join you for lunch today; I'm busy with something important at work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

The court on 161st Street was always busy with something else.

The New York Times

Months later it's published and your head is busy with something new.

Independent

"Mate, can I call you back?" I said, busy with something or other.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The fact that the media are busy with something else for sure can hurt him".

The Guardian - Business

"You were very busy with something weren't you, what was it?" "I was standing for parliament". "Oh, that's right.

The Guardian - Opinion

Gently resist the reflex to jump up and get busy with something.... Just sit, relax and watch.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

As I busy myself with something, I see in my peripheral vision what looks like Leila briefly resting her head on Saeed's shoulder.

The Guardian

(Director) "During the day shifts [the ED] is well supervised, at night time there is a supervision process where a consultant is on call but sometimes the PGY 2 are in the ED by themselves while there is only one other support available - but at the same time that person might be busy dealing with something else".

BMC Medical Education

Don't busy yourself with something that has to do with your worry.

WikiHow

When you get the urge to be nosy, busy yourself with something else.

WikiHow

Take up a hobby that you can do at home so you can busy yourself with something other than eating at night.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating temporary unavailability, use "busy with something" to politely decline an invitation or explain a delay. For example, "I can't make the meeting, I'm busy with something urgent."

Common error

While "busy with something" is acceptable in many situations, avoid using it excessively in formal writing. Opt for more specific and descriptive language to convey the nature of the activity. For example, instead of "busy with something", specify "working on a project" or "attending a conference".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "busy with something" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically used as an adjective complement describing a subject's state of being occupied. Ludwig examples show its use in diverse contexts, reinforcing its role in indicating engagement or lack of availability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Wiki

30%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "busy with something" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that someone is occupied or engaged in an activity. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's versatile enough for use across various contexts, though careful consideration should be given to the level of formality required. While "busy with something" is often adequate, it is more descriptive and effective to use alternatives such as "occupied with something", especially in formal writing, for clarity. When it comes to registers, as seen in Ludwig, it is more versatile and fits in many contexts. Overall, "busy with something" serves as a convenient and widely understood phrase in English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupied with something

This alternative uses a more formal word to describe being engaged in an activity.

engaged in something

This phrase suggests active participation or involvement in an activity.

involved in something

Similar to "engaged in", this indicates being part of or participating in an activity.

preoccupied with something

This implies that someone's thoughts and attention are largely focused on a particular activity.

caught up in something

This suggests being absorbed or deeply involved in an activity.

working on something

This indicates active effort and progress towards a specific task or goal.

taken up with something

This phrase indicates that something is consuming time and attention.

doing something

A more general phrase, simply indicating activity without specifying intensity or focus.

attending to something

Suggests giving care or attention to a particular task or responsibility.

handling something

Indicates managing or dealing with a task or situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "busy with something" to indicate that someone is occupied or engaged in a task. For example: "Sorry, I can't talk right now, I'm "busy with something"."

What are some alternatives to saying "busy with something"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "occupied with something", "engaged in something", or "involved in something".

Is it grammatically correct to say "busy with something"?

Yes, "busy with something" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate that someone is occupied.

What's the difference between "busy with something" and "busy doing something"?

"Busy with something" is more general, while "busy doing something" specifies the action being performed. For example, "I'm busy with something" vs. "I'm busy doing laundry".