bustling

UK: /ˈbʌs^əlɪŋ/ US: /ˈbʌslɪŋ/

From the verb bustle: (⇒ conjugate)

bustling is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bus•tling /ˈbʌslɪŋ/   adj. 

1. (of a place) full of people;
   busy;
   lively:
   a bustling little department store.
   [be + ~ + with]
   The office was bustling with activity.
2. busy;
   full of energy:
   bustling porters at a train station.

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

bus•tle¹ /ˈbʌsəl/   v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v. 

1. to move or act with great energy:
   [~ + about] the chef bustling about in the kitchen.
2. [~ + with + object] (of a place) to have a lot of (something) in, at, or near:
   The office bustled with activity.
3. to hustle:
   [~ + object] She bustled me out of the cold room.

n. [uncountable]

4. excited, noisy activity:
   much hustle and bustle.

bus•tle² /ˈbʌsəl/   n. [countable]

1. Clothing a framework or pad formerly worn under the back of a woman's skirt to support and display the fabric.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bus•tle¹  (bus′əl), v., -tled, -tling, n. 
v.i. 

1. to move or act with a great show of energy (often fol. by about):
   He bustled about cooking breakfast.
2. to abound or teem with something;
   display an abundance of something;
   teem (often fol. by with):
   The office bustled with people and activity.

v.t. 

3. to cause to bustle;
   hustle.

n. 

4. thriving or energetic activity;
   stir;
   ferment.

• Middle English bustelen to hurry aimlessly along, perh. akin to Old Norse busla to splash about, bustle 1615–25

bus′tler, n. 
bus′tling•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 4. ado, flurry, agitation, fuss.

bus•tle²  (bus′əl), n. 

1. Clothing fullness around or below the waist of a dress, as added by a peplum, bows, ruffles, etc.
2. Clothing 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.

• origin, originally uncertain 1780–90

bus′tled, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bustle / ˈbʌs^əl/ verb

1. when intr, often followed by about: to hurry or cause to hurry with a great show of energy or activity

noun

1. energetic and noisy activity

Etymology: 16th Century: probably from obsolete buskle to make energetic preparation, from dialect busk from Old Norse būask to prepare

ˈbustler noun

ˈbustling adjective

ˈbustlingly adverb

bustle / ˈbʌs^əl/ 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

Etymology: 18th Century: of unknown origin