WordGarden.iobushy
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /bˈʊʃi/
US
- /ˈbʊʃi/
Meanings
Adjective
thick and full like a bush, especially hair or fur
having many bushes or thick plant growth
Beyond the definition
Think of a squirrel's tail, a thick thicket, or even a well-groomed beard—all these things can be described as bushy. It means having plentiful, dense growth, usually in a spreading or tangled way. You might call a garden bushy when it's full and flourishing, describe someone's bushy eyebrows, or admire a bushy moustache. The idea is usually natural and full-bodied, sometimes a little wild, but often suggesting health and richness.
Picture a little lost lamb ducking into a bushy thicket for shelter from the rain, or an old wizard with a long, bushy white beard, full of wisdom and character. It is not just about plants; you can also use it for hair, sideburns, or fur that is thick and abundant.
The word "bushy" describes something covered in thick, abundant growth—typically trees, shrubs, foliage, hair, or fur. It often suggests fullness and density, with a hint of untidiness or natural wildness.
Common uses include a bushy hedge, a bushy tail, a bushy beard, bushy eyebrows, or a bushy patch of plants. In each case, the key is that there is a lot of growth and it appears more full, dense, and outwardly spreading than sparse or neat.
A sparse, thin, or neatly trimmed example is not usually called bushy. This adjective fits best when the thing has breadth and volume, and often a look that feels a little unplanned.
Historically, "bushy" goes back to the idea of a bush or shrub, which is why it is strongly linked with vegetation. Over time, people extended it to hair and similar textures, keeping the same idea of dense, rich growth. Even in figurative language, it can describe a situation that feels tangled or overgrown with details.
So, whether describing nature, appearance, or texture, "bushy" usually means dense, full, and slightly untamed.
Examples
- 1
Facial hair
The farmer had a bushy gray beard.
- 2
Eyebrows
She has dark, bushy eyebrows that make her look serious.
- 3
Animal tail
A squirrel with a bushy tail was sitting on the fence.
- 4
Plant growth
By late summer, the tomato plants had grown tall and bushy.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Cheerful energy
He arrived for the early flight looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
- Phrasebright-eyed and bushy-tailed
awake, cheerful, and full of energy
See also
Forms and spellings
3 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- bushyadjective
Forms
- bushiercomparativeadjective
- bushiestsuperlativeadjective