1 C1 informal
(Informal) To move quickly and energetically from place to place doing various tasks.
"She was busting around the house all morning, trying to get everything ready before the guests arrived."
bust around
C1 informal intransitive
(Informal American) To move about quickly and busily, getting things done.
In plain English
To rush around doing lots of things at once.
What does "bust around" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Usage tip
Informal American English. Less common than 'bustle around' or 'rush around'. Can suggest energetic, slightly chaotic activity. Rare outside of casual American speech.
Words that pair with "bust around"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
morning kitchen house errands work chores
How to conjugate "bust around"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
bust around
I/you/we/they
3rd person
busts around
he/she/it
Past simple
busted around
yesterday
Past participle
busted around
have + pp
-ing form
busting around
continuous
Hear "bust around" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "bust around" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "bust around"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
bustle around dash about hustle rush around scurry around
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