got very busy

USAGE SUMMARY

"got very busy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which somebody had a lot of tasks to do and work to complete in a short amount of time. For example, "John got very busy with preparing for the presentation last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

At 3 p.m., the market suddenly got very busy.

The New York Times - Travel

"Come in," he says, adding that "it's all suddenly got very busy".

The Guardian - Opinion

It's day and night now – it's just got very busy…" she exhales, still fatigued by a whole day's worth of regional radio interviews.

Independent

After a winter in which they lost out on Mike Hampton, Mike Mussina and Denny Neagle and gave Alex Rodriguez the brushoff, the Mets got very busy yesterday as baseball's winter meetings moved toward a conclusion in Dallas.

The New York Times - Sports

12.34pm: It's got very busy on the newsdesk with the breaking verdict on the Redknapp trial, PMQs in the Commons, the blogger Guido Fawkes up in front of Leveson and settlements in a load of hacking cases.

The Guardian

"What we're finding is that people have got very busy work lives, they have got very busy family lives, and they are fitting in their sport participation differently - and team sports, and in particular football, has been impacted by that".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Be warned, though: it can get very busy.

Independent

Be aware that this route gets very busy in summer.

The Guardian - Travel

Both beaches can get very busy in August.

The Guardian - Travel

Wheelchair access: Yes, but it gets very busy and crowded.

The Guardian - Music

Avoriaz and Morzine get very busy during school holidays.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "got very busy" to describe a temporary increase in workload or activity. It implies a change from a less busy state.

Common error

While "got very busy" describes a change, it's less appropriate for situations that are consistently hectic. For chronic busyness, consider phrases like "is always busy" or "has a demanding schedule".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "got very busy" functions as a descriptive verb phrase indicating a change in state, specifically transitioning from a state of relative inactivity to one of high activity or workload. Ludwig's examples demonstrate this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "got very busy" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood way to describe a sudden increase in workload or activity. Ludwig's analysis, along with numerous real-world examples, confirms its validity and utility. While versatile, it's best used to describe a change in state rather than a consistently hectic situation. As Ludwig AI pointed out, this phrase is appropriate in various contexts, including news, business, and casual conversation, with authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employing it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became occupied

Emphasizes being filled with activity or tasks.

became swamped

Highlights being overwhelmed with tasks.

became overloaded

Focuses on having more work than one can handle.

became deeply involved

Suggests immersion in tasks or activities.

had a lot on one's plate

An idiomatic expression indicating a full schedule.

started working intensely

Emphasizes the increased effort and dedication to work.

found oneself with numerous responsibilities

Highlights the sudden increase in duties.

had to juggle multiple tasks

Describes dealing with several tasks simultaneously.

entered a demanding phase

Refers to a period of high workload or stress.

found oneself snowed under

Indicates being buried under a large amount of work.

FAQs

How can I use "got very busy" in a sentence?

You can use "got very busy" to describe a situation where someone's workload suddenly increased. For example, "She "got very busy" after the project deadline was announced."

What can I say instead of "got very busy"?

You can use alternatives like "became occupied", "became swamped", or "became overloaded" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "gets very busy" instead of "got very busy"?

Yes, "gets very busy" is also correct, but it implies a recurring or habitual state. "Got very busy" refers to a specific instance or period in the past.

What's the difference between "got very busy" and "was busy"?

"Was busy" describes a state of being occupied, whereas "got very busy" describes the transition into that state. "She was busy" simply indicates she had things to do; "she "got very busy"" means her workload increased.