busily
To do something in a way that shows you are very active, concentrated, and involved in a task. It describes the manner of performing an action with focused industriousness or speed.
Examples
3 of 5She was busily preparing dinner for the guests when the doorbell rang.
She was actively making a meal for the visitors when the bell rang.
The clerks were busily processing the applications to meet the strict legal deadline.
The administrative staff were working hard to complete the forms on time.
I saw him busily scrolling through his phone instead of listening to the lecture.
I noticed he was very active on his phone rather than paying attention.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'bee' (sounds like 'bu-') buzzing 'busily' around flowers to collect pollen.
Quick Quiz
The students worked ____ on their final projects to meet the midnight deadline.
Correct!
The correct answer is: busily
Examples
She was busily preparing dinner for the guests when the doorbell rang.
everydayShe was actively making a meal for the visitors when the bell rang.
The clerks were busily processing the applications to meet the strict legal deadline.
formalThe administrative staff were working hard to complete the forms on time.
I saw him busily scrolling through his phone instead of listening to the lecture.
informalI noticed he was very active on his phone rather than paying attention.
During the laboratory session, the participants were busily recording observations in their journals.
academicIn the lab class, the subjects were actively writing down what they saw in their notebooks.
The marketing team is busily developing a strategy for the upcoming product launch.
businessThe promotion department is working intensely on a plan for the new item.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
humming busily
making a constant sound of activity or work
busily employed
actively using one's time for work
busily involved in
deeply participating in a specific activity
Often Confused With
'Business' is a noun referring to trade or a company, while 'busily' is an adverb describing an action.
'Busy' is an adjective used to describe a person or place, whereas 'busily' modifies a verb.
Usage Notes
Use 'busily' when you want to emphasize the continuous nature of an action or the focus of the person performing it. It usually appears immediately after the verb it modifies or after the direct object.
Common Mistakes
Learners often use the adjective 'busy' as an adverb (e.g., 'He worked busy' instead of 'He worked busily'). Another mistake is confusing the spelling, sometimes omitting the 'i'.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'bee' (sounds like 'bu-') buzzing 'busily' around flowers to collect pollen.
Word Origin
Derived from the Middle English word 'bisily,' which comes from 'busy' combined with the adverbial suffix '-ly.'
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
The students worked ____ on their final projects to meet the midnight deadline.
Correct!
The correct answer is: busily
Related Vocabulary
Related Words
to
A1Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.
and
A1A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
that
A1This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
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