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B2 verb #300 most common 15 min read

bus

Top 300

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips bus in 30 Seconds

Explanation bus in your Level:

At the A1 level, you probably know 'bus' as a noun, like 'I take the bus.' As a verb, it is much simpler. It means to move people from one place to another using a bus. Imagine you are at a big school. The school has many buses. The school 'buses' the students to a park for a picnic. This means the school organizes the trip and uses buses to take everyone at the same time. It is an action. You can say 'The school buses us to the museum.' It is important to remember that 'bus' as a verb is usually about a group of people, not just one person. If you are alone, you just 'take the bus.' If a teacher or a boss moves many people, they 'bus' them. This word is useful when you talk about school trips or big work events. It is a simple way to describe how a lot of people move together. You might also hear it in a restaurant. If a waiter 'buses a table,' it means they are cleaning the plates and glasses. But for now, focus on the meaning of moving people. It is a very common word in English-speaking countries like the USA and the UK. When you see a big yellow bus in a movie, it is 'busing' children to school. Remember the spelling: B-U-S. In the past, it is B-U-S-E-D. For example: 'Yesterday, they bused the players to the stadium.' It is a strong, active word that shows someone is in charge of the travel.

At the A2 level, you can start using 'bus' as a verb to describe organized transportation. It is more specific than just saying 'go' or 'travel.' When you use 'bus' as a verb, you are explaining *how* a group is being moved. For example, 'The hotel buses guests to the airport every hour.' This sentence tells us that the hotel provides a special service. They use a bus, and they do it for many people. It is a transitive verb, which means it usually has an object (the people) and a destination (where they are going). You can also use it in the passive voice, which is very common. 'The students were bused to the zoo.' This means someone else organized the bus for them. This is a very helpful word for describing travel arrangements. If you are planning a party and you want everyone to arrive safely, you might say, 'I will bus my friends to the party.' This sounds very organized. You should also know that in American English, 'busing' is also used to talk about clearing tables in a restaurant. A 'busboy' or 'busser' is the person who does this. So, if you are at a restaurant and the table is dirty, the manager might 'bus the table.' However, the most common use for you will be about moving people. It is a regular verb, but be careful with the spelling. Some people write 'bussed' with two 's's, and some write 'bused' with one. Both are okay, but 'bused' is more common in the United States. Try to use it when you talk about school, work, or big trips with your family.

At the B1 level, the verb 'bus' becomes a useful tool for discussing logistics and social organization. You should understand that 'to bus' implies a deliberate, organized effort by an authority or organization. It is not just about the vehicle; it is about the management of people. For instance, 'The company decided to bus its employees to the new office to reduce the number of cars on the road.' This sentence shows a strategic decision. You can use 'bus' to talk about public services, corporate perks, or event management. It is also important to understand the phrasal versions like 'bus in' and 'bus out.' If a city 'buses in' workers, it means they are bringing people from outside the city to work there. If they 'bus out' residents during a storm, they are moving them away for safety. This level of detail helps you sound more natural and professional. You should also be aware of the historical context of the word, especially in the United States. 'Busing' was a major part of the Civil Rights movement, where it was used to integrate schools. While you don't need to be an expert, knowing that the word can have a political meaning is important for reading news articles or watching documentaries. In terms of grammar, remember that 'bus' is a transitive verb. You bus *someone* to *somewhere*. It is rarely used for individual travel. If you say 'I bus to work,' people might be confused. It is better to say 'I take the bus.' Use the verb 'bus' when you are talking about the person or organization that provides the transport. This distinction is key for B1 learners.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'bus' as a verb in both professional and academic contexts. It is a precise term for the collective transportation of people, often used in discussions about urban planning, corporate social responsibility, and educational policy. For example, you might analyze a text that says, 'The municipal government implemented a plan to bus students across district lines to promote socio-economic diversity.' Here, 'bus' is not just a mode of transport; it is a tool for social engineering. You should be able to discuss the pros and cons of such policies using this vocabulary. In a business context, 'busing' is often discussed as a logistical solution for large-scale events or remote work sites. 'To mitigate the impact of the construction, the firm will bus its workforce from a temporary parking facility.' This usage shows an understanding of formal logistical language. You should also be aware of the spelling nuances: 'bused' and 'busing' are the standard American forms, while 'bussed' and 'bussing' are often found in British English, though the single 's' is becoming more universal in the transport context to avoid confusion with the archaic 'buss' (to kiss). Furthermore, you should recognize the restaurant usage ('to bus tables') as a distinct professional term in the hospitality industry. At this level, you should also be able to use the verb in complex sentence structures, such as 'The decision to bus the athletes was made to ensure they arrived simultaneously and remained focused.' This demonstrates your ability to use the word as part of a larger, more sophisticated argument or description.

At the C1 level, you should master the verb 'bus' as a term that carries significant socio-political and logistical weight. You should understand its nuances in various registers, from the technical language of urban logistics to the emotionally charged language of political debate. In the United States, the term 'busing' is inextricably linked to the history of desegregation and the 'forced busing' controversies of the 1970s. A C1 learner should be able to navigate these historical connotations when reading complex sociological texts or participating in high-level discussions about race and education. For instance, you might encounter a sentence like, 'The legacy of court-ordered busing continues to influence the demographic composition of American suburbs.' In this context, the verb is shorthand for a complex legal and social phenomenon. Beyond history, you should use 'bus' to describe sophisticated logistical operations. In corporate environments, 'busing' can refer to the 'Google Bus' phenomenon, where private transportation for tech workers becomes a symbol of gentrification and corporate autonomy. You should be able to use the verb to describe these modern tensions: 'The practice of busing employees from San Francisco to Silicon Valley has sparked debates about public infrastructure and private privilege.' Grammatically, you should be adept at using the verb in its various forms, including nominalized versions like 'the busing of supporters' or 'busing initiatives.' You should also be aware of the subtle difference between 'busing' and 'shuttling,' where the former often implies a more formal or large-scale policy, while the latter suggests a more routine, mechanical loop. Your usage should reflect a deep understanding of the word's agency, history, and modern applications.

At the C2 level, your command of the verb 'bus' should be indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You should appreciate the word's utility in distilling complex logistical and social processes into a single, potent verb. Whether you are writing a policy brief on urban transit or a historical analysis of the American South, 'bus' serves as a precise instrument. You should be able to use it to describe the intentionality of movement: 'The state's initiative to bus migrants to northern jurisdictions was widely critiqued as a performative political maneuver.' Here, the verb 'bus' captures the organized, almost industrial nature of the movement, as well as the underlying political intent. You should also be comfortable with the word's secondary meaning in the hospitality industry, using it with the same ease as a restaurant professional: 'The efficiency with which the staff bused the tables allowed for a remarkably high turnover rate during the dinner rush.' At this level, you should also be sensitive to the etymological roots of the word—derived from 'omnibus'—and how the verb form has evolved to represent the collective 'for all' nature of the vehicle. You can use the word in metaphorical or highly specialized contexts, such as 'busing' in computer architecture (though this is a different technical term, the conceptual link of moving data in groups is relevant). Your spelling should be consistent and appropriate for your target audience, and you should be able to explain the 'bused' vs. 'bussed' distinction to others. Ultimately, at C2, 'bus' is not just a word for a vehicle; it is a verb that signifies the intersection of logistics, policy, and social dynamics.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

bus in 30 Seconds

To bus means to transport a group of people collectively using a bus, often for school, work, or special events.
In American English, it also means to clear dirty dishes and reset tables in a restaurant setting.
The term is historically significant in the US, referring to school desegregation efforts through mandatory student transportation.
It is a transitive verb that implies organizational agency, meaning someone is in charge of the movement.

The word bus, when used as a verb, represents a specialized action that goes far beyond the simple act of driving a large vehicle. At its core, to bus people means to transport them collectively and systematically to a specific destination, usually as part of an organized program, a corporate requirement, or a public policy initiative. While the noun form is one of the first words an English learner encounters, the verb form is significantly more nuanced and is frequently found in discussions regarding education, urban planning, and corporate logistics. When you hear a news reporter mention that a city is 'busing' students, they are rarely talking about a simple ride to school; they are often referring to a complex, sometimes controversial, social effort to achieve racial or economic balance in schools. This specific usage emerged prominently in the United States during the mid-20th century, particularly during the era of desegregation, where 'busing' became a shorthand for the mandatory transportation of students to schools outside their immediate neighborhoods to ensure diverse student bodies.

Logistical Context: In a modern corporate or event setting, to bus individuals refers to the efficient movement of large groups. For example, a tech company might bus its employees from a central urban hub to a suburban campus to reduce traffic congestion and environmental impact. In this sense, the verb implies a service provided by an organization to facilitate the movement of its members.

The city council voted to bus hundreds of workers to the industrial park to alleviate the morning traffic surge.

Furthermore, in the context of the hospitality industry, particularly in North America, 'to bus' has an entirely different meaning: to clear dirty dishes and reset tables in a restaurant. While this is a distinct homonymic usage, it is equally common in professional environments. However, for the purpose of CEFR B2 level academic and social English, the focus remains on the transportation aspect. The verb can be used in both active and passive forms. You can 'bus' a group, or a group can 'be bused.' The spelling can also be a point of confusion, as both 'busing' and 'bussing' (with a double 's') are considered acceptable, though 'busing' is more common in American English to avoid confusion with the archaic word 'buss,' which means to kiss.

Social Context: In social justice and political science, 'busing' refers to the practice of assigning and transporting students to schools in such a manner as to redress prior racial segregation. This usage is deeply embedded in the history of the American civil rights movement and continues to be a topic of debate in urban policy.

During the 1970s, many school districts were ordered to bus children across town to ensure that every school was racially integrated.

In everyday conversation, you might use the verb when organizing a trip. If you are planning a wedding and the hotel is far from the venue, you might say, 'We are going to bus the guests from the hotel to the ceremony.' This implies a level of care and organization. It suggests that the host is taking responsibility for the group's transit. This is different from saying 'the guests will take the bus,' which implies they are using public transportation independently. Using 'bus' as a verb emphasizes the agency of the organizer.

Industrial Context: Large-scale industrial projects often require busing thousands of laborers to remote sites. This is common in mining, oil and gas, and major construction projects where local housing is insufficient for the workforce.

The mining company had to bus its crew from the base camp to the excavation site every morning at dawn.

The university will bus prospective students to the satellite campus for the open house event.

The festival organizers decided to bus attendees from the parking lots to the main stage to prevent overcrowding.

Using the verb bus correctly requires an understanding of its transitive nature. In most cases, the verb takes a direct object—the people being moved—and a prepositional phrase indicating the destination. The most common structure is [Subject] + [bus] + [Object] + [to Destination]. For example, 'The school buses the children to the museum.' Here, the school is the agent, the children are the object, and the museum is the destination. This structure highlights the organized nature of the movement. It is not just that the children are traveling; it is that they are being moved as a collective unit by an authority.

Active vs. Passive Voice: The passive voice is extremely common with this verb, especially in news reporting. 'The refugees were bused to the border' focuses on the people being moved rather than the agency doing the moving. This is useful when the organizer is a government body or an anonymous entity.

Thousands of fans were bused into the stadium from outlying parking areas to ensure the game started on time.

When discussing the past tense, you must choose between 'bused' and 'bussed.' While both are correct, 'bused' is the standard in American English, whereas 'bussed' is more common in British English. However, even in the UK, 'bused' is gaining ground in the context of transportation to distinguish it from 'buss' (to kiss). In the present participle form, 'busing' and 'bussing' follow the same regional preferences. If you are writing for an academic or professional audience, consistency is key. Choose one spelling and stick with it throughout your document.

The 'In' and 'Out' Prepositions: We often use 'bus in' or 'bus out' to indicate the direction of movement relative to a central location. 'Busing in' workers suggests bringing them into a city or site, while 'busing out' suggests moving them away from a location, often for safety or relocation.

The campaign decided to bus in supporters from neighboring counties to fill the rally hall.

Another important aspect is the modal usage. Because busing often involves planning, you will frequently see it used with 'will,' 'should,' or 'must.' 'The company will bus all attendees' is a promise of service. 'We should bus the students' is a suggestion for a logistical solution. In formal reports, the verb often appears in the infinitive form following a noun: 'The decision to bus the employees was met with mixed reviews.' This nominalization of the action is a hallmark of B2 and C1 level writing.

Spelling Nuances: American English: bus, bused, busing. British English: bus, bussed, bussing. Both are understood globally, but 'bused' is safer in professional contexts to avoid the 'kiss' connotation.

It is more cost-effective to bus the athletes than to have them drive individually.

The emergency services had to bus residents out of the flood zone as the water levels rose.

The tour operator will bus the group to the historic ruins after breakfast.

You are most likely to encounter the verb bus in formal and semi-formal settings. In the world of journalism, it is a staple term for describing the movement of large groups during crises, political events, or social shifts. News anchors often report on 'busing' in the context of immigration, where governments might bus migrants from border towns to interior cities. This usage carries a heavy political weight and is often the subject of intense public debate. If you are listening to a podcast about American history or sociology, you will inevitably hear about the 'busing era' of the 1970s, which refers to the period when the US government used the verb's action as a tool for social engineering.

Corporate and Tech World: In Silicon Valley and other major tech hubs, 'the Google bus' or 'corporate busing' are common terms. Employees discuss being 'bused' to work as a perk or a necessity. You'll hear this in HR meetings, urban planning discussions, and local news reports about traffic management.

The company announced it would bus all staff to the annual retreat in the mountains.

In the travel and tourism industry, the verb is used to describe the logistics of tours. A travel agent might explain that the company will 'bus' you from the airport to your hotel. Here, the word sounds professional and reassuring, implying that the traveler doesn't need to worry about the complexities of local transit. Similarly, at large-scale sporting events like the Olympics or the World Cup, organizers frequently 'bus' athletes and media personnel between venues. If you are watching a documentary about these events, you will hear the word used to describe the massive logistical undertaking of moving thousands of people daily.

Education and Policy: School board meetings and educational policy papers are full of the verb 'bus.' It is used to discuss school boundaries, budget allocations for transportation, and student safety. 'Busing students' is a primary line item in many municipal budgets.

The school district had to bus children to a neighboring town after the local primary school was damaged by the storm.

Finally, you will hear this word in the context of political campaigning. Candidates often 'bus in' supporters to rallies to create a sense of momentum and large-scale support. Political analysts might critique a candidate for 'busing in' crowds, suggesting that the support is not organic to the local area. This usage highlights the verb's association with strategic, organized movement. Whether it's for social equity, corporate efficiency, or political optics, the verb 'bus' is the go-to term for the intentional movement of a group via a specific vehicle type.

Entertainment and Festivals: At music festivals like Coachella or Glastonbury, organizers 'bus' attendees from remote campsites to the main stages. You'll hear this in instructional videos and on-site announcements.

The festival will bus fans from the city center starting at noon each day.

The airline had to bus passengers to a different airport after the runway was closed due to fog.

The charity will bus elderly residents to the community center for the holiday dinner.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with the verb bus is confusing it with the noun. While 'I go by bus' is correct, you cannot say 'I bus to work' as a direct equivalent unless you are the one organizing the transportation for a group. If you are an individual passenger on a public bus, you should say 'I take the bus' or 'I go by bus.' Using 'bus' as a verb for your own individual travel is non-standard and can sound like you are clearing tables or that you are driving the bus yourself. The verb 'bus' almost always implies an organizational action performed on a group of people.

The 'Buss' Confusion: As mentioned earlier, the spelling 'buss' with two s's is an old-fashioned word for a kiss. If you write 'The school bussed the children,' a very pedantic reader might chuckle, imagining the school kissing the children. While 'bussed' is an accepted variant for transportation, 'bused' is the safer choice to avoid this rare but humorous ambiguity.

Incorrect: I bus to school every morning. (Correct: I take the bus to school.)

Another common error is using the wrong preposition. Learners often say 'bus at' or 'bus in' when they mean 'bus to.' Remember that 'bus' is a verb of motion. It requires a destination, usually introduced by 'to.' You 'bus people TO a location.' While 'bus in' is a phrasal verb meaning to bring people into a place, 'bus to' is the standard way to indicate the target destination. Additionally, don't confuse 'bus' with 'shuttle.' While they are similar, a 'shuttle' implies a back-and-forth motion on a short, fixed route, whereas 'bus' is more general and can refer to a one-way trip or a long-distance journey.

The Restaurant Meaning Trap: If you are in a restaurant and say 'I am busing,' people will think you are a staff member clearing tables. If you mean you are traveling by bus, use 'I am taking the bus.' This is a classic false friend for learners who try to turn every noun into a verb.

Confusing: The manager asked me to bus the guests. (Does he mean transport them or clear their plates? Context is vital!)

Finally, avoid overusing the verb. In many cases, 'transport,' 'drive,' or 'carry' might be more appropriate. 'Bus' is very specific to the vehicle type. If the group is being moved in vans or cars, using 'bus' is factually incorrect. Use 'bus' only when a bus is specifically involved. Also, be careful with the passive voice. While 'The students were bused' is common, ensure that the subject of the sentence is indeed the group being moved, not the vehicle itself. You wouldn't say 'The bus was bused to the school.'

Subject-Verb Agreement: When the subject is a collective noun like 'The committee,' remember the verb agreement rules. 'The committee buses the students' (singular) vs 'The organizers bus the students' (plural).

Incorrect: They bused the supplies to the camp. (While possible, 'trucked' or 'transported' is better for inanimate objects; 'bus' is primarily for people.)

The hotel will bus you to the airport. (Correct and clear.)

We need to bus the protesters away from the site. (Correct usage for organized movement.)

While bus is a very specific verb, there are several alternatives that can be used depending on the context, the vehicle type, and the level of formality required. The most common synonym is 'transport,' which is a broad, neutral term that can apply to people, goods, and any mode of travel. However, 'transport' lacks the specific imagery of a large group being moved together in a single large vehicle. If you want to emphasize the back-and-forth nature of the trip, 'shuttle' is an excellent alternative. 'Shuttle' implies a regular, repeated service over a relatively short distance, such as between an airport terminal and a parking lot.

Bus vs. Shuttle: 'Bus' suggests a specific vehicle and often a one-off or organized policy-driven movement. 'Shuttle' suggests a frequent, routine loop. You bus students to a museum (a trip), but you shuttle employees between buildings (a routine).

The resort will shuttle guests to the private beach every thirty minutes.

Another interesting alternative is 'ferry.' While 'ferry' originally refers to moving people across water in a boat, it is often used metaphorically in English to describe moving people back and forth in any vehicle. 'The parents spent the afternoon ferrying their children to various sports practices.' This usage is more informal than 'bus' and usually refers to smaller groups or individual families. In a more formal or technical context, you might use 'convey.' 'The system is designed to convey passengers from the hub to the spokes.' This is very formal and often used in engineering or abstract logistical planning.

Bus vs. Transport: 'Transport' is the generic term. 'Bus' is the specific term. Use 'transport' when the vehicle doesn't matter or is unknown. Use 'bus' when you want to be precise about the method and the collective nature of the movement.

The logistics team will transport the equipment, while the staff will be bused to the site.

In the context of clearing tables (the other meaning of 'bus'), synonyms include 'clear,' 'tidy,' or 'reset.' In a professional kitchen, a manager might say 'Clear table four' or 'Bus table four.' These are interchangeable, though 'bus' is the specific industry term in North America. For the transportation meaning, 'carry' is sometimes used, especially in older literature or formal legal documents ('The vehicle is licensed to carry 50 passengers'), but 'bus' is more active and implies the organization of the trip itself.

Comparison Table: Bus: Collective, specific vehicle, often policy-driven.
Shuttle: Short distance, frequent, routine.
Ferry: Repeated trips, often smaller groups, informal.
Transport: General, neutral, any mode.

We will ferry the guests across the lake, and then bus them to the hotel.

The airline will convey the passengers to the terminal via a motorized walkway.

The tour company will coach the visitors through the Highlands.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The first 'omnibus' service started in Nantes, France, in 1826. The term was coined because the first station was in front of a shop called 'Omnes Omnibus' (Omnes for all).

Pronunciation Guide

UK /bʌs/

US /bʌs/

Single syllable, so the stress is on the entire word.

Rhymes With

us plus thus fuss muss truss discuss syllabus

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'u' like 'oo' (boos).
Making the 's' sound like a 'z' (buz).
Adding an extra syllable (bus-es is two, but bus is one).
Confusing the pronunciation with 'buzz'.
Over-emphasizing the 's' sound.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize, but historical contexts can be complex.

Writing 4/5

Requires careful spelling and understanding of transitivity.

Speaking 3/5

Simple to pronounce, but avoid using it for individual travel.

Listening 3/5

Clear sound, but must distinguish from 'buzz' or 'buss'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

bus (noun) transport school student move

Learn Next

shuttle (verb) commute logistics integration desegregation

Advanced

gerrymandering infrastructure socio-economic mandate jurisdiction

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs

The school (Subject) buses (Verb) the students (Object).

Passive Voice

The workers were bused to the site.

Gerunds as Subjects

Busing students is a complex logistical task.

Phrasal Verbs

They bused in extra security for the concert.

Infinitive of Purpose

They hired a company to bus the guests.

Examples by Level

The school will bus the children to the park.

L'école transportera les enfants au parc en bus.

Future tense with 'will'.

They bus the workers to the factory every day.

Ils transportent les ouvriers à l'usine en bus chaque jour.

Present simple for routine.

We bus the players to the game.

Nous transportons les joueurs au match en bus.

Subject-verb-object structure.

The hotel bused us to the airport.

L'hôtel nous a transportés à l'aéroport en bus.

Past simple 'bused'.

Does the school bus the students?

Est-ce que l'école transporte les élèves en bus ?

Question form with 'does'.

They do not bus the kids on weekends.

Ils ne transportent pas les enfants en bus le week-end.

Negative form 'do not bus'.

The city buses people to the festival.

La ville transporte les gens au festival en bus.

Third person singular 'buses'.

We are busing the group to the museum now.

Nous transportons le groupe au musée en bus maintenant.

Present continuous 'busing'.

The tour company buses tourists to the historic sites.

L'agence de voyage transporte les touristes vers les sites historiques.

Transitive verb usage.

The employees were bused to the conference center.

Les employés ont été transportés en bus au centre de conférence.

Passive voice 'were bused'.

It is cheaper to bus the team than to pay for cars.

Il est moins cher de transporter l'équipe en bus que de payer pour des voitures.

Infinitive 'to bus' as a subject complement.

The airline bused the passengers to a nearby hotel.

La compagnie aérienne a transporté les passagers en bus vers un hôtel voisin.

Past tense 'bused' for a specific event.

Are you busing the guests to the wedding?

Transportez-vous les invités au mariage en bus ?

Present continuous question.

The city council plans to bus more people to the suburbs.

Le conseil municipal prévoit de transporter plus de personnes vers les banlieues.

Infinitive after 'plans to'.

The waiter is busing the tables in the dining room.

Le serveur débarrasse les tables dans la salle à manger.

Secondary meaning: clearing tables.

They bused the students out of the flooded area.

Ils ont évacué les étudiants de la zone inondée en bus.

Phrasal usage 'bus out'.

The corporation buses in hundreds of workers from the city every morning.

L'entreprise fait venir des centaines d'ouvriers de la ville en bus chaque matin.

Phrasal verb 'bus in'.

The school district was forced to bus students to achieve racial balance.

Le district scolaire a été contraint de transporter les élèves en bus pour atteindre l'équilibre racial.

Passive voice with an infinitive of purpose.

We need to organize someone to bus the guests from the station.

Nous devons organiser quelqu'un pour transporter les invités depuis la gare.

Infinitive 'to bus' following 'organize someone'.

The event organizers are busing attendees to the remote parking lot.

Les organisateurs de l'événement transportent les participants vers le parking éloigné.

Present continuous for an ongoing event.

Busing students to distant schools can be very expensive for the city.

Transporter les élèves vers des écoles lointaines peut coûter très cher à la ville.

Gerund 'Busing' as the subject.

The military bused the recruits to the training camp.

L'armée a transporté les recrues au camp d'entraînement en bus.

Past simple transitive.

The restaurant manager asked the new employee to bus the patio tables.

Le gérant du restaurant a demandé au nouvel employé de débarrasser les tables de la terrasse.

Infinitive usage for restaurant context.

The charity buses elderly residents to the community center for lunch.

L'association transporte les résidents âgés au centre communautaire pour le déjeuner.

Present simple for a charitable service.

The university decided to bus prospective students to the satellite campus for the open house.

L'université a décidé de transporter les futurs étudiants vers le campus satellite pour la journée portes ouvertes.

Infinitive of purpose after 'decided to'.

During the strike, the company had to bus in temporary staff to keep the plant running.

Pendant la grève, l'entreprise a dû faire venir du personnel temporaire en bus pour maintenir l'usine en activité.

Phrasal verb 'bus in' in a conflict context.

The controversial policy of busing children to achieve desegregation was met with protests.

La politique controversée de transport des enfants pour parvenir à la déségrégation a suscité des protestations.

Gerund 'busing' as part of a complex noun phrase.

To alleviate traffic congestion, the city buses commuters from the outskirts to the downtown core.

Pour alléger les embouteillages, la ville transporte les banlieusards de la périphérie vers le centre-ville.

Infinitive of purpose at the start of the sentence.

The athletes were bused from the Olympic Village to the various competition venues.

Les athlètes ont été transportés en bus du village olympique vers les différents sites de compétition.

Passive voice with multiple destinations.

The hospitality staff spent the entire evening busing tables and refilling drinks.

Le personnel de restauration a passé toute la soirée à débarrasser les tables et à resservir des boissons.

Parallel structure with 'busing' and 'refilling'.

The government is considering a plan to bus refugees to smaller towns across the country.

Le gouvernement envisage un plan pour transporter les réfugiés vers de petites villes à travers le pays.

Present continuous with a complex object.

The logistics manager must ensure that the crew is bused to the site before dawn.

Le responsable logistique doit s'assurer que l'équipe est transportée sur le site avant l'aube.

Passive voice after 'ensure that'.

The socio-economic implications of busing students to affluent neighborhoods are still being debated by sociologists.

Les implications socio-économiques du transport des élèves vers les quartiers aisés font encore l'objet de débats parmi les sociologues.

Gerund as the head of a complex subject phrase.

The tech giant's practice of busing its workforce from urban centers has been a catalyst for local gentrification.

La pratique du géant de la technologie consistant à transporter sa main-d'œuvre depuis les centres urbains a été un catalyseur de la gentrification locale.

Possessive gerund 'practice of busing'.

In an effort to mitigate the environmental impact, the festival organizers bused in nearly 70% of the attendees.

Dans un effort pour atténuer l'impact environnemental, les organisateurs du festival ont fait venir près de 70 % des participants en bus.

Phrasal verb 'bused in' with a percentage object.

The court-ordered busing of the 1970s remains one of the most polarizing chapters in American educational history.

Le transport scolaire ordonné par les tribunaux dans les années 1970 reste l'un des chapitres les plus polarisants de l'histoire de l'éducation américaine.

Compound adjective 'court-ordered' modifying the gerund.

The logistical nightmare of busing thousands of delegates across the city was handled with surprising efficiency.

Le cauchemar logistique consistant à transporter des milliers de délégués à travers la ville a été géré avec une efficacité surprenante.

Noun phrase 'logistical nightmare of busing'.

The state's decision to bus migrants to sanctuary cities was viewed by many as a cynical political ploy.

La décision de l'État de transporter les migrants vers des villes sanctuaires a été considérée par beaucoup comme une manœuvre politique cynique.

Infinitive 'to bus' explaining a 'decision'.

The restaurant's high turnover rate is largely due to the speed at which the staff can bus and reset tables.

Le taux de rotation élevé du restaurant est en grande partie dû à la vitesse à laquelle le personnel peut débarrasser et remettre les tables.

Infinitive usage in a relative clause.

By busing the protesters away from the summit, the police were able to maintain a secure perimeter.

En transportant les manifestants loin du sommet en bus, la police a pu maintenir un périmètre de sécurité.

Prepositional gerund phrase 'By busing'.

The efficacy of busing as a tool for desegregation is often undermined by the phenomenon of 'white flight' to private institutions.

L'efficacité du transport scolaire comme outil de déségrégation est souvent compromise par le phénomène de la « fuite des blancs » vers les institutions privées.

Gerund 'busing' used as a formal noun.

The administration's mandate to bus students across district lines sparked a litany of legal challenges and civic unrest.

Le mandat de l'administration de transporter les élèves à travers les limites des districts a déclenché une litanie de contestations judiciaires et de troubles civils.

Infinitive 'to bus' as a complement to 'mandate'.

The logistical apparatus required to bus the entire workforce to the remote extraction site is a marvel of modern engineering.

L'appareil logistique nécessaire pour transporter l'ensemble de la main-d'œuvre vers le site d'extraction éloigné est une merveille d'ingénierie moderne.

Infinitive 'to bus' within a complex subject.

Critics argue that busing in supporters from outside the constituency distorts the democratic process and misrepresents local sentiment.

Les critiques soutiennent que le fait de faire venir des partisans de l'extérieur de la circonscription fausse le processus démocratique et dénature le sentiment local.

Gerund phrase 'busing in supporters' as the subject of a subordinate clause.

The subtle art of busing tables in a five-star establishment requires a level of discretion and speed that few possess.

L'art subtil de débarrasser les tables dans un établissement cinq étoiles exige un niveau de discrétion et de rapidité que peu possèdent.

Gerund 'busing' in a highly formal register.

The historical narrative of busing is often oversimplified, ignoring the grassroots efforts that preceded the court mandates.

Le récit historique du transport scolaire est souvent trop simplifié, ignorant les efforts de la base qui ont précédé les mandats judiciaires.

Gerund 'busing' as the object of a preposition.

The airline's contingency plan involves busing passengers to the nearest functional hub in the event of a catastrophic system failure.

Le plan d'urgence de la compagnie aérienne prévoit le transport des passagers vers le hub fonctionnel le plus proche en cas de défaillance catastrophique du système.

Gerund 'busing' as the object of 'involves'.

To bus the disenfranchised to the polls is seen by some as an essential service and by others as a form of electoral manipulation.

Transporter les personnes privées de droit de vote aux urnes est considéré par certains comme un service essentiel et par d'autres comme une forme de manipulation électorale.

Infinitive phrase as the subject of the sentence.

Synonyms

transport shuttle convey ferry transfer carry

Antonyms

walk bike stay

Common Collocations

bus students

bus workers

bus in

bus out

bus tables

court-ordered busing

bus guests

bus passengers

bus athletes

bus across

Common Phrases

bus someone to school

— To provide transportation for a student to their educational institution.

The county has a policy to bus all children who live more than two miles from school.

bus someone in for a rally

— To transport supporters to a political event to increase the crowd size.

The candidate was accused of busing in people to make the rally look larger.

bus someone out of danger

— To evacuate people from a hazardous area using buses.

Emergency services worked through the night to bus residents out of the fire zone.

bus the whole team

— To move an entire sports team together to a game or event.

The coach decided it was better to bus the whole team together to build morale.

bus tables for a living

— To work in a restaurant clearing dishes as one's primary job.

He started out busing tables for a living before becoming a head chef.

bus to the venue

— To transport a group of people to a specific event location.

The conference will bus all delegates to the gala dinner venue.

bus across town

— To transport people from one side of a city to the other.

The city began busing kids across town to integrate the schools.

bus from the airport

— To provide a shuttle service for travelers from an airport.

The hotel will bus you from the airport free of charge.

bus to the site

— To move workers or visitors to a specific location, like a mine or a park.

The tour will bus us to the archaeological site at 8 AM.

bus in the morning

— The act of transporting people during the early hours.

They bus the workers to the fields every day in the morning.

Often Confused With

bus vs buss

An archaic word meaning to kiss. Using 'bussing' instead of 'busing' can sometimes cause confusion.

bus vs shuttle

Shuttle implies a frequent back-and-forth loop, while bus is more general.

bus vs drive

Drive implies operating the vehicle, while bus implies the organized transport of a group.

Idioms & Expressions

"throw someone under the bus"

— To sacrifice a friend or colleague for selfish reasons or to avoid blame.

The manager threw his assistant under the bus when the project failed.

informal

"miss the bus"

— To lose an opportunity by being too slow to act.

If we don't invest in this technology now, we will miss the bus.

informal

"like a bus"

— Used to describe something that arrives in large numbers after a long wait.

Opportunities are like buses; you wait forever and then three come at once.

informal

"busman's holiday"

— A holiday where you spend your time doing the same thing you do at work.

The pilot went on a busman's holiday by flying his own small plane to the coast.

British English

"back of the bus"

— A position of inferiority or secondary importance, often with racial connotations.

For too long, rural communities have been at the back of the bus regarding internet speeds.

metaphorical

"stop the bus"

— An exclamation used to tell someone to wait or stop what they are doing.

Stop the bus! Did you just say you're getting married?

informal

"bus it"

— To travel by bus (verb phrase).

We don't have a car, so we'll have to bus it to the concert.

informal

"get on the bus"

— To join a movement or support a particular idea.

The whole company needs to get on the bus with this new sustainability plan.

informal

"wheels on the bus"

— Refers to something that keeps moving or a repetitive situation.

The wheels on the bus of bureaucracy turn very slowly.

metaphorical

"drive the bus"

— To be the person in control of a situation or project.

Who is driving the bus on this new marketing campaign?

informal

Easily Confused

bus vs transport

Both mean moving people.

Transport is general and can use any vehicle. Bus specifically uses a bus and often implies a group policy.

They transport goods by truck, but they bus the workers.

bus vs shuttle

Both involve moving groups.

Shuttle is for short, repetitive trips. Bus can be for one-way or long-distance organized trips.

The hotel shuttles you to the beach, but the school buses you to the museum.

bus vs coach

Both refer to large vehicles.

In the UK, 'coach' is a verb for long-distance travel. 'Bus' is more for local or policy-driven travel.

We were coached to London for the weekend.

bus vs ferry

Both mean moving people back and forth.

Ferry is often informal or involves water. Bus is more formal and always involves a road vehicle.

I'll ferry you to the station in my car.

bus vs clear

Relates to the restaurant meaning.

Clear is general. Bus is the specific industry term for clearing and resetting a table.

Waiters clear plates; bussers bus tables.

Sentence Patterns

Subject + bus + Object + to + Place

The school buses kids to the zoo.

Subject + be + bused + to + Place

We were bused to the hotel.

Subject + bus in + Object

The factory buses in workers.

Gerund + Object + Verb

Busing students helps integration.

Noun + of + busing + Object

The policy of busing children was controversial.

Infinitive Phrase as Subject

To bus the entire workforce is a major task.

Subject + bus + tables

The waiter buses the tables quickly.

Modal + bus + Object

We must bus the fans to the stadium.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news, education, and hospitality; less common in casual personal conversation.

Common Mistakes

I bus to school every day. → I take the bus to school every day.
Using 'bus' as a verb for individual travel is non-standard. It usually implies you are the organizer or the driver.
The school bussed the children. → The school bused the children.
While 'bussed' is acceptable, 'bused' is the standard in American English and avoids confusion with 'buss' (to kiss).
They bused the supplies to the office. → They trucked/transported the supplies to the office.
The verb 'bus' is primarily used for people. For inanimate objects, use 'transport' or 'truck.'
We bused at the museum. → We were bused to the museum.
The verb 'bus' requires a destination preposition like 'to,' not 'at.'
The waiter is busing the customers. → The waiter is busing the tables.
In a restaurant, you bus 'tables' (clear them), you don't bus 'customers' (unless you are transporting them!).

Tips

Use the Passive Voice

When the focus is on the people being moved, use the passive voice: 'The fans were bused to the arena.' This is very common in reporting.

One 'S' is Safer

In modern English, 'busing' and 'bused' with one 's' are the most widely accepted forms for transportation.

Corporate Usage

Use 'bus' when describing company-provided transportation for employees to show professional vocabulary.

Distinguish from Shuttle

Use 'shuttle' for short, frequent loops and 'bus' for specific, organized trips.

Hospitality Term

If you work in a restaurant, 'busing' is the correct term for clearing tables. It shows you know the industry jargon.

Historical Sensitivity

Be aware of the US history of 'busing' when using the word in social or political contexts.

Always Use 'To'

When indicating a destination, always use the preposition 'to': 'bus them to the park.'

Think Groups

Remember that 'bus' as a verb is almost always about moving a group, not an individual.

Nominalization

In formal writing, you can use 'the busing of students' as a noun phrase to describe a policy.

Short 'U'

Ensure the 'u' in 'bus' is short, like in 'cup' or 'up,' to be understood clearly.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'B-U-S' as 'Bringing Us Somewhere.' The verb 'to bus' is the act of bringing us somewhere together.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant yellow school bus picking up a whole neighborhood of children and moving them to a new school. That action is 'busing'.

Word Web

School Work Transport Group Vehicle Policy Integration Restaurant

Challenge

Write three sentences using 'bus' as a verb: one about a school trip, one about a company event, and one about a restaurant.

Word Origin

The word 'bus' is a shortened form of 'omnibus,' which was a horse-drawn vehicle for public transport in the 19th century. The verb form emerged later as the vehicle became motorized and standardized.

Original meaning: The Latin word 'omnibus' means 'for all,' indicating that the vehicle was intended for the general public rather than private use.

Latin (via French and English).

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'busing' in American political discussions as it can evoke strong feelings about race and class.

In the US, 'busing' is a sensitive political term. In the UK, 'coaching' is often used for long-distance busing.

The 1974 Boston busing crisis. The 'Google Bus' protests in San Francisco. The song 'The Wheels on the Bus'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Education

bus students to school
school busing policy
bus across district lines
mandatory busing

Corporate Logistics

bus employees to work
corporate busing service
bus in temporary staff
bus to the retreat

Tourism

bus guests to the hotel
bus tourists to the ruins
airport busing service
bus to the venue

Politics

bus in supporters
bus protesters away
bus migrants to the city
political busing

Hospitality

bus the tables
hire a busser
bus dirty dishes
bus and reset

Conversation Starters

"Do you think companies should bus their employees to work to save the environment?"

"Was busing ever used in your country to help students go to better schools?"

"Have you ever had to bus a long distance for a special event or a wedding?"

"In your opinion, is it better to bus people to events or let them drive themselves?"

"Have you ever worked in a restaurant where you had to bus tables?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you were bused somewhere as part of a group. Where were you going and how did it feel?

Research the history of school busing in the US and write your thoughts on its effectiveness.

Imagine you are an event planner. How would you organize busing for 500 guests to a remote location?

Write about the pros and cons of corporate busing for tech workers in large cities.

Reflect on the two different meanings of 'bus' as a verb. How are they similar or different in terms of 'moving' things?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Technically, it is better to say 'I take the bus' or 'I go by bus.' Using 'bus' as a verb usually implies you are organizing the transport for a group or that you are a restaurant worker clearing tables.

Both are correct. 'Busing' is more common in American English, while 'bussing' is more common in British English. However, 'busing' is often preferred to avoid confusion with 'buss' (to kiss).

It means clearing away dirty dishes, cutlery, and glassware from a table in a restaurant and then cleaning it for the next guest.

In the 1970s, 'busing' was a policy used to integrate schools by moving students to different neighborhoods. It was met with significant social and political resistance.

It is rarely used for objects. You would usually say 'trucked,' 'shipped,' or 'transported' for goods. 'Bus' is almost exclusively for people.

Yes, it is a regular verb. The past tense is 'bused' or 'bussed,' and the present participle is 'busing' or 'bussing.'

A busser (or busboy/busgirl) is a person employed in a restaurant to clear and clean tables.

Usually, it implies a large vehicle like a school bus or a coach, rather than a small van or a car.

'Bus in' means bringing people into a location. 'Bus out' means moving people away from a location.

Yes, especially if you are writing about education, urban planning, or logistics. It is a precise and professional term.