progressively busier

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "progressively busier" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something is becoming increasingly busy over time. Example: "As the project deadline approached, the team found themselves progressively busier with tasks and responsibilities."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

There certainly was a slowdown after the financial crisis, but we've been progressively busier and busier.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some of these problems can no doubt be blamed on the stresses and strains of running a progressively busy network, that was essentially built by the Victorians.

BBC

The reforms, which are progressively linking hospitals' funding to how busy they are, seem to be falling apart already.Rightly, Sir Nigel denies this is the case.

The Economist

He said although the market was always busy, the demand was still exceeding supply and getting progressively worse.

BBC

"While the British progressively took over more and more of the Mughal Emperor's power," writes Dalrymple, "the court busied itself in the obsessive pursuit of the most cleverly turned ghazal, the most perfect Urdu couplet".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

2. Add weight progressively.

The New York Times

Soft, progressively snowy pictures.

The New York Times - Books

It got progressively worse".

The New York Times - Sports

Compulsion becomes progressively harder.

The Economist

Wolford got progressively worse.

The Washington Post

That technology, which is being progressively rolled out, allows 12% more vehicles to make use of the existing road network.From this month, Transport for London is starting to charge utilities £2,500 a day for digging up the busiest roads.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "progressively busier" to describe a gradual increase in workload or activity over time. This emphasizes a change in state rather than a constant condition.

Common error

Avoid using "progressively busier" when you mean simply "busy". "Progressively busier" implies a change over time, not just a state of being occupied. For instance, say "The office is busy today" instead of "The office is progressively busier today" if there's no prior context of it becoming more so.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "progressively busier" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. "Progressively" modifies "busier", indicating a gradual increase in the state of being busy. Ludwig's AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

17%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "progressively busier" describes a gradual increase in activity or workload, serving as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. While grammatically sound and suitable for neutral contexts, it's important to use it when emphasizing a change over time, distinguishing it from simply being "busy". As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and appropriate. Common alternative include "increasingly occupied", "becoming more hectic", and "growing in activity". While only a few examples are present, "progressively busier" is most frequently used in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasingly occupied

Focuses on being occupied, implying attention and engagement, not necessarily hectic activity.

becoming more hectic

Highlights the chaotic nature of increased activity.

growing in activity

Emphasizes a general increase in activity level.

getting more overloaded

Focuses on the feeling of being burdened by too much work.

ramping up operations

Indicates a strategic increase in operational tempo.

intensifying workload

Specifically refers to the increasing amount of work.

escalating commitments

Highlights the increase in promises or obligations.

building up activity

Suggests a gradual accumulation of tasks and responsibilities.

accumulating responsibilities

Emphasizes the increasing number of duties.

expanding duties

Focuses on the enlargement of assigned tasks.

FAQs

How can I use "progressively busier" in a sentence?

You can use "progressively busier" to describe a situation that is gradually increasing in activity or workload. For example: "As the project deadline approached, the team found themselves "progressively busier" with tasks and responsibilities".

What are some alternatives to "progressively busier"?

Some alternatives to "progressively busier" include "increasingly occupied", "becoming more hectic", or "growing in activity". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "progressively busier" grammatically correct?

Yes, "progressively busier" is grammatically correct. It correctly uses an adverb ("progressively") to modify an adjective ("busier").

When should I use "progressively busier" versus just "busier"?

Use "progressively busier" when you want to emphasize a gradual increase in activity or workload over time. If you're simply describing a current state of being occupied, use "busier".