Meaning & use
bustling
Last updated
UK/ˈbʌslɪŋ/
US/ˈbʌslɪŋ/
Meaning
adjectivecomparableapproving
Full of busy people and noisy, energetic activity.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb: a bustling market, the town was bustling.
Patterns
- bustling with something
We wandered through the bustling market, tasting everything.
The station was bustling with commuters.
She grew up in a bustling port city.
Word forms
| comparative | more bustling |
|---|---|
| superlative | most bustling |
Common combinations
- bustling city
- The bustling city never seems to sleep.
- bustling market
- A bustling market filled the main square.
- bustling with activity
- The kitchen was bustling with activity before the party.
- bustling street
- The bustling street was lined with food stalls.
- bustling atmosphere
- The cafe has a bustling atmosphere at lunchtime.
Synonyms and how they differ
- busy
- Busy is the general word, while bustling adds energy, movement and noise.
- lively
- Lively stresses spirit and fun, whereas bustling stresses crowded activity.
- hectic
- Hectic suggests stress and chaos, while bustling is usually positive.
- teeming
- Teeming is stronger and means crammed with people or creatures.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: bustling or blustering?
bustling vs blustering
Blustering means speaking in a loud, boastful way or describing wild wind, not busy activity.
Practice
At noon, the ___ square was crowded with shoppers and vendors.
Choose one answer.
Bustling describes a place full of busy activity. Deserted, silent and remote all suggest emptiness or quiet.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “bustling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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