we are busy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we are busy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to inform someone that you or a group of people are currently occupied and unable to engage in other activities or conversations. Example: "I appreciate your interest in collaborating, but unfortunately, we are busy with other projects at the moment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We are busy too and many of us experience similar situations in our businesses as well.

HuffPost

'We are busy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We are busy screening them.

The Guardian

"We are busy living, too".

The New York Times

We are busy duplicating the video.

The New York Times

We are busy building our lives.

The Washington Post

"I'm almost uncomfortable saying that we are busy".

The New York Times - Travel

Ooh, we are busy today," Johnson said the following morning.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When we are busy, our brains default to pattern recognition.

Harvard Business Review

We are busy in our own struggle.' As if this saint's life weren't in the balance".

The New York Times

"They know that we are busy in the relief and rescue work".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using this phrase; in formal settings, more professional alternatives like "we are occupied" might be preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "we are busy" as a default response. Instead, try to offer specific reasons or alternative solutions, like suggesting a different time to connect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are busy" functions as a declarative statement to convey a state of being occupied. This phrase is commonly used to explain a lack of availability or to set expectations regarding response times. As supported by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and used across different scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we are busy" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that one is occupied. As indicated by Ludwig, this simple phrase can be used in a wide array of settings. The phrase sees prevalent usage in news media and academic contexts. While generally neutral in tone, being mindful of the recipient and context is important to avoid seeming dismissive. To add variety to your writing and to tailor the phrase's tone to match a specific context, you might use alternative phrases such as "we are occupied" or "we are tied up".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are occupied

Replaces "busy" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing being engaged or in use.

we are engaged

Highlights involvement and active participation, similar to being busy.

we are tied up

Indicates being occupied or committed, suggesting limited availability.

we are swamped

Suggests being overwhelmed with tasks, conveying a higher level of busyness.

we are overloaded

Emphasizes having too many tasks or responsibilities, similar to being very busy.

we have a lot on our plate

An idiomatic expression indicating a large number of responsibilities or tasks.

we are working on several projects

Specifies the type of activity causing busyness, providing more context.

our hands are full

An idiomatic expression meaning we are very busy and have no time for additional tasks.

we are hard at work

Emphasizes the effort and dedication involved in the busyness, suggesting focused activity.

we are currently unavailable

Indicates a temporary lack of availability due to being busy with other commitments.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says "we are busy"?

When someone says "we are busy", it generally means they are currently occupied with tasks, projects, or other commitments, and have limited time or availability.

What can I say instead of "we are busy" to sound more professional?

To sound more professional, you can use alternatives like "we are occupied", "we are engaged", or "we are attending to other matters".

Is it appropriate to tell a client or customer that "we are busy"?

While honesty is important, saying "we are busy" to a client can sound dismissive. Instead, try something like "We're currently managing a high volume of requests, but we'll get back to you as soon as possible" or offer a specific timeframe.

How can I politely decline a request when "we are busy"?

Politely decline by saying something like, "Thank you for thinking of us. We appreciate the offer, but "we are tied up" with other commitments at the moment. Perhaps we can revisit this at a later date."