adj
Uncommon
buzzing
BUH-zihng
Buzzing (adj) means Full of lively activity or excitement. Example: “The market was buzzing with shoppers on Saturday morning.”
adj
1
Full of lively activity or excitement.
"'We shall see,' he said. 'But it did go unusually well , I must say.' You were absolutely buzzing when I met you at Paddington,' said Niall."
— Nell Hudson, Just For Today (2022)
""I thought we were good first half apart from the goal. I was in the toilet at half-time, I felt sick all morning but fine now, I feel buzzing.""
— Lori Ewing, No Haaland, no problem as Man City thrash Liverpool 4-1 to keep up title chase (2023)
"The market was buzzing with shoppers on Saturday morning."
"The city centre was buzzing with music and crowds on the last night of the festival."
"It's a buzzing little cafe where students gather between lectures."
""But I wanted to phone Bobby. Honestly, I felt like Santa. He was absolutely over the moon. It's a strong 21s squad, so he's in good company. I think Davie was more buzzing for Bobby than he was for himself.""
— Derek McInnes, 'I felt like Santa' - McInnes on Wales' Scotland U21 call-up (2023)
2
British informal: very pleased or excited.
"She was buzzing after hearing she got the job."
"We're all buzzing about the trip to the seaside tomorrow."
"He came home buzzing after his team won the local final."
How to use buzzing
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLively and full of energy, or (informally) thrilled.
When to use it
The "thrilled" sense is casual British slang.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more buzzing
- Superlative
- most buzzing
Fill the gap
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The market was _____ with shoppers on Saturday morning.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “buzzing” mean?
The word “buzzing” means full of lively activity or excitement. In plain terms, lively and full of energy, or (informally) thrilled.
How do you pronounce “buzzing”?
“Buzzing” is pronounced BUH-zihng (/ˈbʌzɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “buzzing” in a sentence?
Here is “buzzing” used in a sentence: “The market was buzzing with shoppers on Saturday morning.”
What part of speech is “buzzing”?
“Buzzing” is an adjective.
Is “buzzing” a common word?
“Buzzing” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “buzzing” have?
“Buzzing” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: full of lively activity or excitement.
What does it mean to say a place is "buzzing"?
When describing a place or atmosphere, buzzing means full of lively activity or excitement, such as a buzzing restaurant or a buzzing city street.
What does "buzzing" mean in British slang?
In British informal usage, buzzing means very pleased or excited about something, as in "I'm buzzing for the weekend." This personal sense is distinct from describing a lively place.
What is the difference between "buzzing" and "excited"?
"Excited" describes a person's feeling directly, while "buzzing" can describe either a place full of energetic activity or, informally in British English, a person's own excitement, giving it a more vivid, colloquial feel.