Meanings
verbkeep someone busy (third-person singular simple present keeps someone busy, present participle keeping someone busy, simple past and past participle kept someone busy)
present singular third person keeps someone busy · participle present keeping someone busy · participle past kept someone busy · past kept someone busy
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo ensure that someone's attention is occupied, often to prevent them from becoming bored or noticing something.
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Cite this entry
APA
keep someone busy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20someone%20busy
MLA
“keep someone busy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20someone%20busy. Accessed November 5, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “keep someone busy,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/keep%20someone%20busy.
Source: keep someone busy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.