busker

noun

busk·​er ˈbə-skər How to pronounce busker (audio)
Synonyms of buskernext
chiefly British
: a person who entertains in a public place for donations
busk
ˈbəsk How to pronounce busker (audio)
intransitive verb

Examples of busker in a Sentence

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.
The whole busker-to-recording star has a filmic rags-to-riches quality even before Hansard meta-ishly embodied it in the film. — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 Born in the Irish capital on April 21, 1970, began his career as a busker in the city’s streets. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 3 Aug. 2026 Meyers noted that most buskers don’t wear clown masks from the Czech Republic. — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 17 July 2026 Nonedible attractions include buskers, balloon animals and monthly knife sharpening. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for busker

Word History

Etymology

busk, probably from Italian buscare to procure, gain, from Spanish buscar to look for

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of busker was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

busk
busker
buskin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Busker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/busker. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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