bustled; bustling
ˈbəs-liŋ 
ˈbə-sə-
1
: to move briskly and often ostentatiously
bustled around the kitchen
2
: to be busily astir : teem
The house was bustling with activity.
: noisy, energetic, and often obtrusive activity
the hustle and bustle of the big city
clothing
: a pad or framework expanding and supporting the fullness and drapery of the back of a woman's skirt or dress
the bustle of a 19th century wedding gown
also
: the drapery so supported
Examples of bustle in a Sentence
Verb
She bustled around the kitchen getting ready for dinner guests.
on Saturdays the city's downtown bustles with activity as a farmers' market sets up shop
Noun (1)
I couldn't concentrate in all the bustle of the student lounge
Recent Examples on the Web
A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
Maintenance is $1,221 a month and the building is pet-friendly and close to Fort Greene Park and the neighborhood’s bustling restaurant scene.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 15 Apr. 2025
Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Take a moment to relax before all of the hustle and bustle.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bustle
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Verb
The two have stolen enough from warring mob families to buy an old sawmill from the Klan, with plans to transform it into a bustling watering hole for the community.
—A.a. Dowd, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025
Maintenance is $1,221 a month and the building is pet-friendly and close to Fort Greene Park and the neighborhood’s bustling restaurant scene.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
Despite its central location in the West End of London, the hotel offers a welcome escape in Fitzrovia from the hustle and bustle of nearby Oxford Street, and the opening of its new Damu Spa means that guests and visitors can add wellness to the experience.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Take a moment to relax before all of the hustle and bustle.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bustle
Cite this Entry
“Bustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bustle. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bustle
1 of 2 verb
bus·tle
ˈbəs-əl
bustled; bustling
ˈbəs-(ə-)liŋ
: to move about busily or noisily
bustle
2 of 2 noun
: noisy or energetic activity
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