bustling
adjective
bus·tling ˈbəs-liŋ 
ˈbə-sə-
: full of lively activity : busily astir
a bustling market
bustling streets
Commercial ships and recreational boats were serviced by a bustling marine industry. 
AAG Abstracts
AAG Abstracts bustlingly adverb
a bustlingly busy area
Synonyms
- active
- assiduous
- busy
- diligent
- employed
- engaged
- hopping
- industrious
- laborious
- occupied
- sedulous
- tied-up
- working
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Gaza Strip, a Palestinian coastal enclave sandwiched between Israel and Egypt, was a bustling trade route between Egypt and the Levant in ancient times. Fares Akram, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2022 In a bustling lunchroom Monday at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee, USDA Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean sampled the food and mingled with students on a visit promoting ways that families can continue to get free or affordable meals. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2022 Other developers also see the city as a budding alternative to building in more crowded Miami or the increasingly bustling city of Miami Beach. Deborah Acosta, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 During its heyday, the city was a bustling metropolis. Lilit Marcus, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 On a recent outing Rab walked with Karla Bennett, the supervising social worker on the team, three blocks west to Spring Street, a bustling mélange of hipsters, tourists, business people and homeless wandering out of skid row. Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Under normal circumstances, Labor Day Weekend is a bustling time at Johnny T’s. Michael Goldberg, ajc, 4 Sep. 2022 The bakery is small and bustling—there’s no seating, so plan to take your food to go. Annalise Mabe, Bon Appétit, 2 Sep. 2022 Landowners who neglect to assert their airspace rights now should not be surprised when the space above their once-peaceful backyard becomes a bustling Prime Air delivery route. Troy Rule, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022 See More
Fares Akram, Anchorage Daily News, 16 Sep. 2022 In a bustling lunchroom Monday at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee, USDA Deputy Under Secretary Stacy Dean sampled the food and mingled with students on a visit promoting ways that families can continue to get free or affordable meals. Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2022 Other developers also see the city as a budding alternative to building in more crowded Miami or the increasingly bustling city of Miami Beach. Deborah Acosta, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 During its heyday, the city was a bustling metropolis. Lilit Marcus, CNN, 8 Sep. 2022 On a recent outing Rab walked with Karla Bennett, the supervising social worker on the team, three blocks west to Spring Street, a bustling mélange of hipsters, tourists, business people and homeless wandering out of skid row. Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2022 Under normal circumstances, Labor Day Weekend is a bustling time at Johnny T’s. Michael Goldberg, ajc, 4 Sep. 2022 The bakery is small and bustling—there’s no seating, so plan to take your food to go. Annalise Mabe, Bon Appétit, 2 Sep. 2022 Landowners who neglect to assert their airspace rights now should not be surprised when the space above their once-peaceful backyard becomes a bustling Prime Air delivery route. Troy Rule, Fortune, 2 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1582, in the meaning defined above
bustling 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in busy
involved in often constant activity a bustling greeter was there to welcome guests to the grand opening Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- busy
- engaged
- diligent
- occupied
- employed
- working
- active
- preoccupied
- industrious
- immersed
- buzzing
- hopping
- assiduous
- vibrant
- lively
- thriving
- humming
- laborious
- flourishing
- absorbed
- tied-up
- sedulous
- swamped
- operating
- focused
- going
- running
- functioning
- engrossed
- astir
- concentrating
- animated
- happening
- living
- energetic
- operational
- hardworking
- vigorous
- knee-deep
- operative
- intent
- tireless
- functional
- indefatigable
- alive
- focussed
- untiring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- idle
- unoccupied
- inactive
- unemployed
- free
- sleepy
- quiescent
- dormant
- lifeless
- unbusy
- slow
- latent
- passive
- inert
- asleep
- dull
- dead
- inoperative
- nonoperating
2
as in buzzing
marked by much life, movement, or activity a bustling shopping center during the Christmas season Synonyms & Similar Words
- buzzing
- busy
- vibrant
- thriving
- crowded
- lively
- humming
- populous
- flourishing
- brisk
- teeming
- astir
- abuzz
- rousing
- happening
- hopping
- animated
- stirring
- kinetic
- thronging
- swarming
- alive
- abubble
- overflowing
- aboil
- abounding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sleepy
- inactive
- dead
- lifeless
- asleep
bustling
2 of 2verb
1
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop Synonyms & Similar Words
- buzzing
- bursting
- teeming
- humming
- brimming
- bulging
- swarming
- overflowing
- abounding
- pullulating
- bristling
- crawling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lacking
- wanting
- needing
2
as in hurrying
to proceed or move quickly the hostess bustled about, taking care of last-minute preparations for the party Synonyms & Similar Words
- buzzing
- hurrying
- racing
- traveling
- scurrying
- rushing
- driving
- flying
- trotting
- zipping
- speeding
- running
- chasing
- hustling
- travelling
- jumping
- scooting
- darting
- dashing
- whirling
- blasting
- stepping
- blowing
- scuttling
- tearing
- bowling
- rustling
- zooming
- blazing
- shooting
- ripping
- jogging
- breezing
- barreling
- bolting
- motoring
- careening
- careering
- hurtling
- whisking
- ramming
- rocketing
- hurling
- haring
- hastening
- highballing
- galloping
- coursing
- hying
- bombing
- humping
- belting
- jetting
- nipping
- pelting
- beating it
- flitting
- bundling
- cannonballing
- barrelling
- scuffling
- scampering
- hieing
- whizzing
- beetling
- making tracks
- shaking a leg
- stepping on it
- cracking (on)
- stampeding
- sprinting
- accelerating
- scudding
- getting a move on
- hotfooting (it)
- overtaking
- streaking
- quickening
- outpacing
- outrunning
- outstripping
- stepping out
- beelining
- arrowing
- catching up
- fast-forwarding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- crawling
- lingering
- creeping
- strolling
- poking
- dragging
- hanging (around or out)
- lagging
- loitering
- dawdling
- shuffling
- sauntering
- poking
- ambling
- lumbering
- plodding
- dallying
- tarrying
- decelerating
- slowing (down or up)
- dillydallying