bus

UK: /ˈbʌs/ US: /bʌs/ ,(bus)

Inflections of 'bus' (n):

Both plurals are correct in both US and UK English, but "buses" is more common.

buses

npl

busses

npl

Inflections of 'bus' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

All spellings listed are correct in both US and UK English, but those marked US & UK are more common in US English and those marked UK & US are more common in UK English.

buses

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

busses

v 3rd person singular (UK & US)

busing

v pres p (US & UK)

bussing

v pres p (UK & US)

bused

v past (US & UK)

bussed

v past (UK & US)

bused

v past p (US & UK)

bussed

v past p (UK & US)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

bus¹ /bʌs/   n., pl. bus•es, bus•ses, v., bused or bussed, bus•ing or bus•sing. 
n. [countable]

1. Transport a large, long motor vehicle equipped with seating for passengers:
   The children waited for the school bus.

v. 

2. Transport to travel by bus;
   to carry, convey, or transport by bus: [no object]
   Let's see if we can bus back to the hotel.
   [~ + object]
   People were bused in to take part in the demonstration.
3. Transport to transport (pupils) to school by bus, esp. as a means of achieving racial integration:
   [~ + object] claimed that children are bused to schools in trips that take an hour or more.

bus² /bʌs/   v., bused or bussed/bʌst/  bus•ing or bus•sing. 

1. to work as a busboy or busgirl: [no object]
   He bused most school nights and weekends.
   [~ + object]
   See if he'll bus that table now.

bus.,  an abbreviation of:

1. business.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

bus¹  (bus), n., pl. bus•es, bus•ses, v., bused or bussed, bus•ing or bus•sing. 
n. 

1. Transport a large motor vehicle, having a long body, equipped with seats or benches for passengers, usually operating as part of a scheduled service; omnibus.
2. Transport a similar horse-drawn vehicle.
3. Transport a passenger automobile or airplane used in a manner resembling that of a bus.
4. Transport any vehicle operated to transport children to school.
5. Furniture a low, movable filing cabinet.
[Elect.] Also called bus′ bar′, bus•bar  (bus′bär′). a heavy conductor, often made of copper in the shape of a bar, used to collect, carry, and distribute powerful electric currents, as those produced by generators.
6. Computing a circuit that connects the CPU with other devices in a computer.

v.t. 

7. Transport to convey or transport by bus:
   to bus the tourists to another hotel.
8. Transport to transport (pupils) to school by bus, esp. as a means of achieving racial integration.

v.i. 

9. Transport to travel on or by means of a bus:
   We bused to New York on a theater trip.

• 1825–35; short for omnibus; (def. 6) short for omnibus bar

bus²  (bus), v.i., v.t., bused or bussed, bus•ing or bus•sing. 

1. to work or act as a busboy or busgirl:
   She bused for her meals during her student days.

• back formation from busboy 1830–40

bus., 

1. business.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bus / bʌs/ noun (buses, busses)

1. a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers between stopping places along a regular route
   More formal name: omnibus
2. short for trolleybus
3. (modifier) of or relating to a bus or buses: a bus driver, a bus station
4. a car or aircraft, esp one that is old and shaky
5. short for busbar
6. a platform in a space vehicle used for various experiments and processes
7. miss the bus ⇒ to miss an opportunity; be too late
8. park the bus ⇒ (of a sports team) to play in a very defensive way

verb (buses, busing, bused, busses, bussing, bussed)

1. to travel or transport by bus
2. to transport (children) by bus from one area to a school in another in order to create racially integrated classes

Etymology: 19th Century: short for omnibus