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bustle

NounIntransitive VerbTransitive Verb
past: bustledpp: bustleding: bustling

This word evokes a sense of frantic, purposeful energy. When used to describe an atmosphere, it suggests a productive chaos where many people are moving quickly, such as in a marketplace or a busy office. It carries a more positive or neutral connotation than words like panic or turmoil, implying organized activity rather than disorder. In a historical fashion context, the term refers to a specific structural garment. This usage is distinct from the action of moving quickly and is restricted to the terminology of 19th-century dressmaking.

Meanings

Noun

Excited activity and noisy movement, typically in a crowded place.

"The bustle of the city center can be overwhelming for tourists."

Intransitive Verb

To move or act with a great deal of energy and speed, often in a hurried or noisy manner.

"She bustled about the kitchen preparing the holiday feast."

Noun

A padded undergarment worn to expand the back of a woman's skirt, popular in the late 19th century.

"The Victorian dress was supported by a stiff bustle."

Transitive Verb
[~ something]

To move something quickly and energetically from one place to another.

"He bustled the children into the car before the rain started."

Related Words

Last Updated: June 14, 2026Report an Error