busyness

[ biz-ee-nis ]

noun

1. the quality or condition of being busy.
2. lively but meaningless activity.

Other Words From

• non·busy·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of busyness¹

First recorded in 1840–50; busy + -ness

Example Sentences

"There was a busyness before. It is only hitting people now."

From BBC

When he gets runs, he is praised for being busy, but that busyness can become frenetic, especially at the start of his innings.

From BBC

Babies do not arrive on anyone’s schedule, and the busyness of labor and delivery units can wax and wane accordingly.

From Los Angeles Times

Adding to the busyness, Puts heavily features the chorus as a collective, omniscient narrator and the characters’ inner voices.

From New York Times

Yet in the opaque world of the royal family, the busyness of a monarch’s calendar is often the best clue to his well-being.

From New York Times

Related Words

• effort
• industry
• study