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
David Nikel, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
For a brief period in the 1870s and ’80s, dressmakers placed pockets in the back of the bustle, requiring wearers to slip a hand backwards and rummage around for their belongings.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 9 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
Promising a mix of relaxation and festive fun, a Christmas cruise may sound like the perfect way to escape the hustle and bustle of a notoriously hectic time of year.
—David Nikel, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
For a brief period in the 1870s and ’80s, dressmakers placed pockets in the back of the bustle, requiring wearers to slip a hand backwards and rummage around for their belongings.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 9 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 23 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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