occupy

oc·cu·py

verb \ˈä-kyə-ˌpī\

oc·cu·piedoc·cu·py·ing

Definition of OCCUPY

transitive verb

1

: to engage the attention or energies of

2

a : to take up (a place or extent in space) <this chair is occupied> <the fireplace will occupy this corner of the room> b : to take or fill (an extent in time) <the hobby occupies all of my free time>

3

a : to take or hold possession or control of <enemy troops occupied the ridge> b : to fill or perform the functions of (an office or position)

4

: to reside in as an owner or tenant

— oc·cu·pi·er \-ˌpī(-ə)r\ noun

Examples of OCCUPY

1. They have occupied the apartment for three years.
2. She occupies the house that her grandfather built 50 years ago.
3. They own another house that they occupy only three months out of the year.
4. They occupy the room next to ours.
5. This region was once almost completely occupied by forests.
6. Their house occupies a beautiful spot next to the ocean.
7. Much of our time is occupied by answering questions from our customers.
8. These questions have continued to occupy her mind.

Origin of OCCUPY

Middle English occupien to take possession of, occupy, from Anglo-French occupier, occuper, from Latin occupare, from ob- toward + -cupare (akin to capere to seize) — more at ob-, heave

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to OCCUPY

Synonyms: absorb, bemuse, busy, catch up, engross, enthrall (or enthral), enwrap, fascinate, grip, immerse, interest, intrigue, involve, engage

Related Words: allure, attract, beguile, bewitch, captivate, charm, enchant, obsess; hypnotize, mesmerize; distract, preoccupy; hog, monopolize

Near Antonyms: bore, jade, pall, tire, weary

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with OCCUPY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify