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Dictionary.com
Definitions

tied up

VERB
hamper, hinder
Synonyms
WEAK
bind clog confine curb delay entrammel fetter hog-tie hold leash limit lock up obstruct restrain restrict shackle stop tie one's hands trammel
Antonyms
WEAK
aid assist encourage free help
VERB
hamper
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bind clog lock up
WEAK
confine curb delay entrammel fetter hinder hog-tie hold leash limit obstruct restrain restrict shackle stop trammel
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free
tied-up
ADJECTIVE
busy
Synonyms
STRONGEST
active unavailable working
STRONG
buried employed engaged engrossed hustling occupied overloaded persevering slaving snowed swamped
WEAK
already taken assiduous at it diligent having a full plate having enough on one's plate having fish to fry having many irons in the fire in a meeting in conference in someone else's possession in the field in the laboratory industrious on assignment on duty on the go up to one's ears with a customer
Antonyms
STRONGEST
idle
STRONG
inactive unoccupied
WEAK
lazy quiet unbusy unemployed unengaged
ADJECTIVE
engaged
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absorbed committed employed engrossed interested involved occupied preoccupied working
STRONG
doing immersed performing practicing pursuing signed
WEAK
at work connected with dealing in deep in place in use intent rapt unavailable wrapped-up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
bored disinterested idle inactive uninterested unoccupied
WEAK
available disengaged inoperable not working uninvolved
ADJECTIVE
engrossed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
absorbed captivated consumed engaged enthralled submerged
STRONG
bugged busy fascinated gone gripped hooked immersed intrigued lost monopolized occupied riveted
WEAK
all wound up assiduous caught up caught up in deep diligent fiend for head over heels heavily into hung up industrious intent into rapt really into sedulous taken up with turned on up to here in wrapped-up
Antonyms
STRONG
existing idle inactive
WEAK
bored disenthralled disinterested ignoring inattentive oblivious uncaring uninterested unoccupied
ADJECTIVE
finished
Synonyms
STRONGEST
closed concluded decided ended full realized resolved satisfied settled stopped
STRONG
accomplished achieved ceased compassed consummated discharged dispatched effected effectuated elaborated executed finalized fulfilled lapsed made perfected performed shut terminated
WEAK
brought about come to an end disposed of done for done with entire final in the past over over and done put into effect sewn-up through worked out wound-up wrapped-up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
incomplete
WEAK
unfinished
ADJECTIVE
immersed
Synonyms
STRONG
absorbed buried busy consumed engaged engrossed mesmerized occupied preoccupied spellbound
WEAK
bound-up deep eat, sleep, and breathe intent into rapt taken up turned on wrapped-up
Antonyms
STRONG
bored disinterested idle inactive uninterested unoccupied
WEAK
ignorant neglectful negligent
ADJECTIVE
obsessed
Synonyms
STRONGEST
captivated dominated haunted preoccupied troubled
STRONG
bedeviled beset bewitched controlled dogged engrossed fixated gripped harassed held hooked infatuated overpowered plagued possessed prepossessed seized tormented
WEAK
eat, sleep, and breathe fiendish have on the brain hung up on immersed in into really into taken over turned on up to here in wound up with wrapped up in
Antonyms
STRONG
disenchanted
WEAK
indifferent unconcerned
ADJECTIVE
occupied
Synonyms
STRONGEST
employed engaged
STRONG
engrossed working
WEAK
active clocked up head over heels too much on plate
Antonyms
STRONG
unoccupied
WEAK
empty free idle inactive not busy uninhabited vacant
ADJECTIVE
related
Synonyms
STRONGEST
akin analogous associated complementary linked pertinent relevant similar
STRONG
affiliated allied correlated enmeshed interconnected interrelated intertwined interwoven joint like parallel
WEAK
agnate alike cognate concomitant connate connatural consanguine convertible correspondent dependent fraternal germane in the same category in touch with incident interchangeable interdependent knit together mutual of that ilk reciprocal
Antonyms
STRONGEST
alien dissimilar inappropriate irrelevant unalike unlike unrelated unsuitable
STRONG
different separate
WEAK
disassociated disconnected foreign
ADJECTIVE
tight
Synonyms
STRONGEST
airtight fast short uncomfortable
WEAK
blind blocked bolted choking clumped cramping crushing cutting fastened firm fixed hermetic hermetically sealed impenetrable impermeable impervious locked nailed obstructed padlocked pinching plugged proof secure shrunken shut skintight slammed smothering snapped sound stopped up tied watertight
Antonyms
STRONGEST
loose
WEAK
open slack unsealed

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.

“It’s also a potential hit to home values and those with their wealth tied up in home equity.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The 27-year-old has long been on Benn's radar but the Briton, who has served his own doping ban from the sport, spent 2025 tied up in his rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

My parents sent the money to a friend in Argentina to start the business in their stead while they tied up loose ends in the States.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2026

Sable remains tied up in several lawsuits with California officials and environmental groups over the pipelines, but this would be the first to test the authority of the Defense Production Act.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

When the hippos were silent, she imagined them creeping around the tree where she had tied up.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer