DictionaryDefinition

- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
  Log In

bus

1 of 3

noun

ˈbəs

plural buses also busses

often attributive

Synonyms ofbus next

:a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule

took thebus to work

double-deckerbuses

waiting at thebus stop

:automobile

:a smallhand truck

electrical engineering:bus bar

computers:a set of parallel conductors (seeconductorsense d(1)) in a computer system that forms a main transmission path

:a spacecraft or missile that carries one or more detachable devices (such aswarheads)

bus

2 of 3

verb

bused also bussed;busing also bussing

intransitive verb

:to travel by a large motor vehicle designed to carry passengers usually along a fixed route according to a schedule:to travel by bus

:to work as abusboy

transitive verb

:to transport by bus

busing kids to school

Students werebused in for the game.

:clearsense 4d

bus dishes

:to remove dirty dishes from

bus tables

bus

3 of 3

abbreviation

business

Phrases

throw (someone) under the bus

informal

:to criticize, blame, or punish (someone in a vulnerable position) especially in order to avoid blame or gain an advantage

… we will notthrow any studentunder the bus for instant restoration of our image or our reputation.—

Donna Shalala

But he went out of his way to make clear that this one wasn't really on him. The problem lay with underlings, whom he quicklythrew under the bus.—

Rem Rieder

Did you know?

The History ofBus

In 1661, mathematician Blaise Pascal conceived the world’s first bus service, proposing that a number of coaches should “circulate along predetermined routes in Paris at regular intervals regardless of the number of people,” and pick up passengers for a small fixed fare. The wordbus is short foromnibus, which means “for everyone.”Bus was first used in this sense in the 1830s, its "everyone" meaning referencing the fact that anyone could join the coach along its route, unlike with stagecoaches, which had to be pre-booked.

Synonyms

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples ofbus in a Sentence

Noun She boarded abus in Nashville. Are you traveling by train orby bus?Verb Hebuses tables at the local diner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage.Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.

Noun

Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of controlDon't tail large vehicles closely - Trucks orbusescan kick up a water spray that obstructs visibility.—

Nc Weather Bot,Charlotte Observer, 11 July 2025The two men were the only Black people on thebuson July 13, the complaint said.—

Kate Linderman,Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025

Verb

Kamala Harris pounded Joe Biden over his stances onbusingfrom the 1970s—a long-ago dispute that even became fodder for J.D. Vance in 2024.—

Andrew Yang,MSNBC Newsweek, 25 June 2025Passengers used stairs to get off the plane and werebusedto the terminal.—

Mike Sullivan,CBS News, 12 June 2025See All Example Sentences forbus