they were busy

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "They were busy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation, in which two or more people were occupied with something. For example: "They were busy preparing for their presentation".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They were busy elsewhere.

The New York Times

They were busy doing what needs doing.

The New York Times

They were busy putting out the paper.

The New Yorker

"They were busy with their knives.

The Guardian

Bless them, they were busy with his kid.

The New York Times

They were busy expanding their arms-shop handiwork.

The New York Times

"They were busy calling on their phones, on the radios.

The New York Times

They end each day knowing they were busy.

The New York Times

People used to say they were busy, busy, busy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

And they are busy.

The New York Times

Maybe they are busy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were busy" to simply state that a group was engaged in activities. Be clear about what they were busy with to avoid ambiguity. For instance, "They were busy preparing the presentation" provides more context.

Common error

Avoid using "they were busy" without providing context, especially when communicating to someone who needs assistance. Instead of simply stating "they were busy", explain what they were doing and offer alternatives or a timeframe for assistance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were busy" functions as a descriptive statement, indicating that a group of people was occupied or engaged in some activity. Ludwig AI shows various examples, indicating its common usage in describing someone's state.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

6%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were busy" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that a group of individuals was occupied or engaged in activities, rendering them unavailable for other tasks. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news and media. While versatile, providing context about what they were busy with enhances clarity. Consider alternatives like "they were occupied" or "they were engaged" to fine-tune the nuance. Avoid over-generalization to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were occupied

This alternative emphasizes being engaged with a task or activity, similar to being busy, but can imply a more focused engagement.

they were engaged

Focuses more on the active participation and involvement of the group in question.

they were working

Specifically highlights the act of performing labor or tasks.

they were active

Suggests involvement in a range of activities, not necessarily work-related but implying energetic participation.

they were tied up

This idiom indicates being constrained or unable to do something else due to current obligations.

they had their hands full

Emphasizes being overwhelmed or very busy with numerous tasks.

they were overloaded

Implies being burdened with more tasks than can comfortably be handled.

they were swamped

Conveys being overwhelmed by a large quantity of something, typically work or requests.

they were hard at work

Stresses the diligence and effort being put into their tasks.

they were deep in

Implies intense involvement and focus on a particular task or subject.

FAQs

What does "they were busy" mean?

The phrase "they were busy" indicates that a group of people were engaged in activities and likely not available for other tasks or distractions at that moment.

What can I say instead of "they were busy"?

You can use alternatives like "they were occupied", "they were engaged", or "they were working" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they was busy"?

No, "they was busy" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they were busy", as "were" is the past tense plural form of the verb "to be".

How can I use "they were busy" in a sentence?

You can use "they were busy" to describe what a group was doing. For example: "The doctors said "they were busy treating patients"." or "The operators couldn't get to me immediately because "they were busy with other calls"".