How to Use businesslike in a Sentence

businesslike

adjective
  • His businesslike approach to the dispute was very helpful.
  • Name tags feel a bit businesslike — or like a high school reunion.
    — Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 24 Sep. 2022
  • On the field, Aaron was businesslike and always did the right thing.
    — John Shea, SFChronicle.com, 22 Jan. 2021
  • Be pleasant and businesslike, and focus on the tasks at hand.
    — Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 20 Oct. 2022
  • To be more businesslike on the field, Palmer would have to line up in a three-piece suit.
    — Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2022
  • This year’s signing day seemed businesslike, a bunch of teams just getting the job done.
    — Kevin Allen, USA TODAY, 1 July 2017
  • Schweer, dressed for the office, had a prim, businesslike manner.
    — Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 19 July 2021
  • Gillian, who was the most businesslike and got on with things, had grandchildren, too.
    — Tessa Hadley, The New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2019
  • The guys who play at the Program have a businesslike approach to them.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2019
  • Yet right now, the best way to describe this team is effective and businesslike.
    — Mike Preston, baltimoresun.com, 4 Oct. 2020
  • The demeanor of the team is far more businesslike than in 2019.
    — Tim Bielik, cleveland, 10 Nov. 2020
  • With nowhere to go, maybe the trips become even more businesslike and players more focused.
    — Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2020
  • Our group just really is very businesslike in their approach.
    — Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 12 July 2024
  • To keep the look from feeling too businesslike, finish with a quirky shaggy coat and loafer shoes.
    — Irina Grechko, InStyle, 17 Jan. 2026
  • Hurston herself describes her role here in more modest, even businesslike terms.
    — James Hebert, sandiegouniontribune.com, 23 June 2017
  • While the wife toured the house with a businesslike clipboard in hand, the husband went back outside.
    — Dorothy Stephens, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Apr. 2018
  • The calls are more businesslike and streamlined, 45 minutes rather than up to two hours.
    — Matt Viser, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Feb. 2021
  • Everything must be spelled out, contract-like, businesslike, and brisk.
    — Heather Wilhelm, National Review, 7 Feb. 2018
  • Before and after the show, the Pseudo scene is much more businesslike.
    — Jesse Freund, WIRED, 1 Sep. 1997
  • Lloyd Webber has a more businesslike attitude about the whole thing.
    — Peter Marks, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2023
  • Kunin’s departure kicked off the day, setting a businesslike tone for the Wild.
    — Sarah McLellan, Star Tribune, 8 Oct. 2020
  • They were shocked when the two of them, with the court case over, were able to move on, not as friends initially but in a businesslike way.
    — Sushma Subramanian, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2022
  • Jenner finished off the businesslike look with black trousers, loafers with white socks, and black sunglasses.
    — Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Thomas grieves but must interact with the businesslike functionaries of death.
    — Jeffrey Arlo Brown, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2024
  • Clothes may be casual, businesslike, or on the elegant/dressy side.
    — Lois Fenton, Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2021
  • The interior is a businesslike place to be, and a comfortable one at that.
    — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 1 June 2022
  • Singh and Langer are friendly but not close, and both are known for being quiet and businesslike on the golf course.
    — Ap, USA TODAY, 27 May 2017
  • Though no one outside his camp has a full glimpse behind the curtain, the process of picking a team has seemed very businesslike so far.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
  • And how would the famously gruff and businesslike Belichick work with nineteen-year-olds?
    — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
  • Pence had made a show of rolling up his sleeves and diving into the specifics, a businesslike soldier for the president’s agenda.
    — vanityfair.com, 20 July 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'businesslike.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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