remained busy

USAGE SUMMARY

"remained busy" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a state of continuous engagement or activity. Example: "She remained busy with her studies throughout the summer." Alternative expressions include "stayed occupied" and "continued to be engaged."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

LuPone remained busy, however.

Britannica

Nevertheless, she remained busy.

The New York Times - Arts

Our temporarily-European contingent remained busy.

The New York Times - Arts

Phillips remained busy on other fronts.

The New York Times - Sports

He was, and remained, busy enough anyway.

The Guardian - Books

Still, the restaurant remained busy on many nights.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

The business parks remain busy however, and the town and environs has its share of national trading companies including supermarkets and retail outlets.

Wikipedia

After one of the most difficult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids, starting businesses and going back to school.

The Guardian

He is likely to remain busy.

The Washington Post

In the meantime, the tanker fleet will remain busy.

The New York Times

THE lawns are still being mowed, the 16-storey European headquarters will remain busy.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with a prepositional phrase like "with" or "on" to specify what exactly was occupying the subject's time.

Common error

Do not say "remained busily" when you mean to describe the state of the subject. In the phrase "remained busy", the word "busy" is an adjective acting as a subject complement following the linking verb "remained". Adverbs should only be used if they are modifying the verb's action in a non-linking context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "remained busy" functions as a linking verb followed by an adjective acting as a subject complement. In the linguistic data provided by Ludwig, it consistently identifies the state of the subject over a passage of time.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "remained busy" is a highly reliable and grammatically sound expression used to describe sustained activity. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use in reputable journalism and biographical writing, where it serves to connect different periods of a subject's life or operations. It is almost always followed by a description of the work performed, such as "remained busy in television" or "remained busy with assignments". Because it uses a linking verb, it is stylistically cleaner than more complex alternatives like "continued to be busy". Writers should feel confident using it in any professional or neutral context to indicate that a level of activity was maintained without interruption.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stayed busy

A direct and slightly more conversational alternative to using the verb remain

stayed active

Emphasizes physical or mental engagement rather than just workload

kept busy

More informal and suggests a self-imposed or habitual state of activity

remained occupied

Often implies that the person's time was filled by a specific task or obligation

continued working

Focuses specifically on professional or labor-related tasks

stayed engaged

Suggests a deeper level of focus or interest in the activity

remained productive

Highlights the output or results of the activity

remained involved

Usually refers to participation in a group, project or organization

maintained activity

More technical or clinical in tone compared to the standard phrase

persisted in working

Adds a nuance of determination or effort against potential stopping points

FAQs

How do I use "remained busy" in a sentence?

You can use "remained busy" to describe a continuous state of activity, for example: "After the success of her first film, she "remained busy" with new projects throughout the year."

What is a more formal way to say "remained busy"?

Depending on the context, you might use "remained occupied" or "maintained a high level of activity" to sound more professional.

Is it "remained busy" or "remained busily"?

The correct phrase is "remained busy" because "remain" is a linking verb that requires an adjective to describe the subject, not an adverb to describe the action.

Can I use "stayed busy" instead of "remained busy"?

Yes, "stayed busy" is a perfectly acceptable and common synonym that is slightly more informal than "remained busy".