completely busy

USAGE SUMMARY

'completely busy' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a person's state of being very busy, overwhelmed by tasks, or having no time available. Example sentence: She was completely busy for the entire week, unable to find a minute for herself.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In big cities one can be completely busy doing so much and be left with little to no time to nurture any particular relationship or interest.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They're all busy".

Emerging Infectious Diseases

These voters care about the national economy and certain issues but are also busy with their own lives so are not completely engaged.

The Guardian

Instead, the Trojans were busy completely changing the way they ran their program in the two weeks they spent getting ready for the Ducks.

The New York Times - Sports

It took me many years to get back on to a tube train and I'm still not completely comfortable in busy, confined spaces.

The Guardian

While a friend is absent or otherwise busy, completely cover their car in saran-wrap or post-it notes.

WikiHow

Meanwhile, at the Morning Lark, the journalist Clint Smoker, a classic Amis mixture of failure, aggression and completely hopeless longing, is busy writing pun-crippled celebrity gossip.

The Guardian - Books

In this instance, Toye was the provider as the Antrim defence was completely unlocked after the busy O'Connor had set up the attack by winning breaking ball in centrefield.

BBC

To deal with the time between examinations, many women found that devoting themselves completely to duties at busy workdays was a way to temporarily keep their anxieties at bay.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Busy – there was a big job to do in completely restructuring the business and its payment propositions, which came with some tough decisions.

The Guardian

Many businesses remained closed, and normally busy streets were completely deserted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "completely busy", ensure the context clarifies the cause of the busyness for better understanding. For instance, "completely busy with project deadlines" offers more clarity than simply "completely busy".

Common error

Avoid using "completely busy" when you still have some availability. Instead, opt for "very busy" or "quite busy" to accurately reflect your capacity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "completely busy" primarily functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being extremely occupied or lacking free time. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. Examples found in Ludwig showcase its descriptive role in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "completely busy" is used to describe a state of being extremely occupied, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While grammatically correct, its frequency is relatively rare. When employing this phrase, consider the context to ensure the intensity of busyness is accurately conveyed. For alternatives, options like "fully occupied" or "utterly swamped" may provide nuanced variations. Remember to avoid overstating your availability and use more appropriate terms if not entirely occupied.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fully occupied

Focuses on the state of being filled with activities or tasks.

totally engrossed

Emphasizes absorption in an activity, leaving no room for other tasks.

utterly swamped

Highlights being overwhelmed by a large volume of work.

entirely preoccupied

Stresses that someone's thoughts or actions are consuming their attention.

extremely occupied

Highlights the degree to which someone is busy.

incredibly tied up

Indicates being constrained by commitments and obligations.

heavily engaged

Focuses on being deeply involved in various activities.

flat out

Suggests working at maximum capacity.

up to one's neck

Implies being deeply immersed in work or difficulties.

overwhelmed with tasks

Clearly indicates that someone is struggling to manage a high workload.

FAQs

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

You can use "completely busy" to describe someone who has no free time due to numerous obligations. For example, "She is "completely busy" this week preparing for the conference".

What's the difference between "completely busy" and "very busy"?

"Completely busy" suggests that someone has absolutely no free time, while "very busy" implies a high level of activity but with potential pockets of availability. Use "completely busy" when someone is fully occupied.

What can I say instead of "completely busy"?

You can use alternatives like "fully occupied", "totally engrossed", or "utterly swamped" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "completely busy" in formal writing?

Yes, "completely busy" is acceptable in formal writing. However, consider using more formal alternatives like "heavily engaged" or "extremely occupied" for a more professional tone.