Busyness
/ˈbɪzi.nəs/noun
The state of being occupied with tasks or activity.
Did you know?The word comes from Old English *bisig*, meaning “careful, anxious, occupied,” so its earliest sense was closer to being mentally pressed or harried than simply having a full schedule.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*bisigaz
“careful, anxious, occupied”
Old English
OE
bisig
“busy, occupied, diligent, anxious”
Middle English
ME
bisinesse
“state of being busy; activity; occupation”
Modern English
English
busyness
“the state of being occupied with tasks or activity”