What Is Another Way to Say “Very Busy”?

Looking for synonyms for very busy? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say very busy.

  • Swamped
  • Overwhelmed
  • Engrossed
  • Occupied
  • Burdened
  • Snowed under
  • Preoccupied
  • Inundated
  • Flooded
  • Hectic
  • Bustling
  • Saturated
  • Overloaded
  • Packed
  • Jam-packed
  • Full
  • Tied up
  • Engaged
  • Overbooked
  • Stretched thin

Want to learn how to say very busy professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Swamped

Used to describe being extremely busy or overwhelmed with work.
Example: “I can’t attend the meeting this afternoon; I’m absolutely swamped with deadlines.”

2. Overwhelmed

Appropriate for situations where one is burdened with too much to handle or process.
Example: “The team felt overwhelmed by the new project’s scope and tight timeline.”

3. Engrossed

Used when someone is completely absorbed or occupied in something.
Example: “She was so engrossed in her research that she forgot to take a lunch break.”

4. Occupied

Suitable for describing someone who is busy or using something.
Example: “All conference rooms are occupied with ongoing meetings throughout the day.”

5. Burdened

Appropriate for situations where one is loaded heavily with work or responsibilities.
Example: “He felt burdened by the numerous project management tasks assigned to him.”

6. Snowed under

Used metaphorically to describe being overwhelmed with an excessive amount of work.
Example: “We’re completely snowed under with client requests this week.”

7. Preoccupied

Refers to being absorbed in thought or busy with something.
Example: “The manager was too preoccupied with the audit to notice the error in the report.”

8. Inundated

Used to describe receiving an overwhelming amount of things or work.
Example: “After the product launch, the customer service team was inundated with inquiries.”

9. Flooded

Appropriate for situations where one is overwhelmed with a large quantity of something.
Example: “The office was flooded with applications for the new position.”

10. Hectic

Describes a situation or period that is full of frantic activity.
Example: “It’s been a hectic month with back-to-back business trips and tight deadlines.”

11. Bustling

Used to describe a place or situation that is full of busy activity.
Example: “The sales floor was bustling with activity during the holiday season.”

12. Saturated

Appropriate for situations where one is fully occupied or overwhelmed to the limit.
Example: “The production team is saturated with orders for the rest of the month.”

13. Overloaded

Used when someone has more work or responsibilities than they can manage.
Example: “The IT department is overloaded with support tickets.”

14. Packed

Describes a schedule or place that is very full or crowded.
Example: “Her calendar is packed with meetings and commitments.”

15. Jam-packed

Used for a very busy or tightly packed schedule or place.
Example: “The trade show was jam-packed with vendors and visitors.”

16. Full

Appropriate for a schedule or workload that is completely filled.
Example: “My day is full with client consultations and report reviews.”

17. Tied up

Used to describe being very busy and unable to do other things.
Example: “I’m tied up with budget revisions until the end of the day.”

18. Engaged

Suitable for describing someone who is fully occupied or involved in something.
Example: “She’s currently engaged in a critical business negotiation.”

19. Overbooked

Used when there are too many commitments or activities scheduled in a limited time.
Example: “The consultant is overbooked with multiple overlapping client meetings.”

20. Stretched thin

Describes a situation where resources, including time and personnel, are being utilized to their limits.
Example: “With multiple ongoing projects, our team is stretched thin.”

Linda Brown