keep busy

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employ v.
engage v.
occupy v.

VERB

employ

Synonyms

STRONGEST

apply engage exploit handle occupy operate spend use utilize

STRONG

bestow exercise exert fill manipulate

WEAK

bring to bear put to use take up use up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

be lazy surrender yield

STRONG

take

WEAK

fire ignore lay off let go misuse shun unemploy

VERB

engage

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrest catch employ fascinate immerse interest involve join participate preoccupy undertake

STRONG

absorb allure bewitch busy captivate charm draw enamor enchant enthrall grip imbue monopolize partake practice soak tackle

WEAK

embark on enter into give a try give a whirl go for broke go in for go out for have a fling at have a go at have a shot at pitch in preengage set about take part tie up try on for size

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bore disenchant disinterest free ignore let go release

STRONG

disgust forget neglect offend repel repulse turn off

WEAK

discharge disconnect

VERB

occupy

Synonyms

STRONGEST

attend employ fill involve take up

STRONG

absorb amuse busy divert engage engross entertain immerse interest monopolize preoccupy soak utilize

WEAK

be active with be concerned with hold attention tie up

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignore

STRONG

bore forget refuse reject

WEAK

be inactive be lazy idle not use

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

keep busy

Inside Jim’s Burgers, not far from the burning warehouse, restaurant owner Manuel Orozco and his workers wore face masks as they tried to keep busy in a mostly empty diner.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

She has picked up a couple of temporary jobs since then to keep busy, and did so again last year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 3, 2026

The centenarian said she likes to keep busy.

From BBC ● Dec. 15, 2024

All around them is noise and chaos, as toddlers, children and adults bustle about to keep busy and try to create scraps of normalcy despite the extraordinary circumstances.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 13, 2023

I had to keep moving around and I was glad when people came in wanting food or hot drinks so I could keep busy.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

keep busy

Example Sentences

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