bustle

¹

[ buhs-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, bus·tled, bus·tling.

1. to move or act with a great show of energy (often followed by about ):

   He bustled about cooking breakfast.

2. to abound or teem with something; display an abundance of something (often followed by with ):

   The office bustled with people and activity.

verb (used with object)

, bus·tled, bus·tling.

1. to cause to bustle; hustle.

noun

1. thriving or energetic activity; stir; ferment.

   Synonyms: fuss, agitation, flurry, ado, teem, overflow, brim

bustle

²

[ buhs-uhl ]

noun

1. fullness around or below the waist of a dress, as added by a peplum, bows, ruffles, etc.
2. a pad, cushion, or framework formerly worn under the back of a woman's skirt to expand, support, and display the full cut and drape of a dress.

bustle

¹

/ ˈbʌsəl /

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by about to hurry or cause to hurry with a great show of energy or activity

noun

1. energetic and noisy activity

bustle

²

/ ˈbʌsəl /

noun

1. a cushion or a metal or whalebone framework worn by women in the late 19th century at the back below the waist in order to expand the skirt

Derived Forms

• ˈbustler, noun
• ˈbustling, adjective

Other Words From

• bus·tler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bustle¹

First recorded in 1615–25; Middle English bustelen “to hurry aimlessly along,” perhaps akin to Old Norse busla “to splash about, bustle”

Origin of bustle²

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of bustle¹

C16: probably from obsolete buskle to make energetic preparation, from dialect busk from Old Norse būask to prepare

Origin of bustle²

C18: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

The environment of a typical studio is quieter and more intimate than a bustling gym.

From Los Angeles Times

It gets extra points for the pedestrian bridges over the bustling Pacific Coast Highway that help folks get safely from the shops-and-restaurants part of town to the beach.

From Los Angeles Times

When Monica Figueroa was sent to work in New York City for a few months, she struggled to make friends in the bustling city.

From Los Angeles Times

On Ukraine’s frosty battlefields, in bustling urban cafes in Europe and Asia, on Middle Eastern street corners, there were gasps and widened eyes as the news flashed on televisions and smartphone screens.

From Los Angeles Times

In five and a half hours in this once bustling city we saw two people out in the open, on foot.

From BBC

Related Words

• commotion
• hubbub
• tumult