bustle

6 synonyms and 4 antonyms for bustle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — Busy, energetic activity and movement, especially of a crowd.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

stir hustle fuss

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

ado flurry bustle about

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

Busy, energetic activity and movement, especially of a crowd.

“She loved the bustle of the market on Saturday mornings.”

stir hustle fuss ado flurry bustle about

Opposites

calm inactivity quiet idleness

2. verb

To move about quickly and busily, often with a sense of purpose or fuss.

“Waiters bustled between the tables, taking orders.”

hustle

How to use bustle

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

hustle and bustle bustle about the bustle of the city

Etymology

From Middle English bustlen, possibly linked to Old Norse búask ("to prepare oneself"), with echoes of an older word meaning "to beat or pummel."

Full origin of bustle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bustle” mean?

The word “bustle” means busy, energetic activity and movement, especially of a crowd. In plain terms, a busy flurry of movement, or to move around quickly and purposefully.

How do you pronounce “bustle”?

“Bustle” is pronounced BUH-suhl (/ˈbʌsəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “bustle” in a sentence?

Here is “bustle” used in a sentence: “She loved the bustle of the market on Saturday mornings.”

What part of speech is “bustle”?

Depending on how it is used, “bustle” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “bustle” come from?

The word “bustle” comes from Middle English. From Middle English bustlen, possibly linked to Old Norse búask ("to prepare oneself"), with echoes of an older word meaning "to beat or pummel.".

How many meanings does “bustle” have?

“Bustle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: busy, energetic activity and movement, especially of a crowd.

People also searched

quiet calm stir hustle fuss ado inactivity flurry idleness

Nearby words

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