occupy

verb oc·cu·py \ ˈä-kyə-ˌpī \

Updated on: 25 Apr 2018

Definition of occupy

occupied; occupying

transitive verb

1 : to engage the attention or energies of

They occupied themselves with video games.

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)

will occupy the newly created office of chancellor
—Current Biography

4 : to reside in as an owner or tenant

occupies an apartment on a two-year lease

—

occupier

play \ˈä-kyə-ˌpī(-ə)r\ noun

See occupy defined for English-language learners

See occupy defined for kids

Examples of occupy in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of occupy from the Web

The secretary of education post has long been occupied by a rogue's gallery of people focused on undermining public education and the authority of teachers.

— luke darby, GQ, "Betsy DeVos’ Department of Education Is Saving Itself Work by Dismissing Hundreds of Civil Rights Cases," 21 Apr. 2018
Row 3 will be occupied by Dale Coyne Racing with Vasser-Sullivan's Sebastien Bourdais and Andretti Autosport's Ryan Hunter-Reay.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Josef Newgarden nabs pole at Barber, but will starting up front matter?," 21 Apr. 2018
After outfitting an expansive space formerly occupied by a grocery chain with rubber floors, mirrors, and red and blue mood lights befitting a nightclub, Heat Bootcamp opened up in San Marcos, the quaint seat of Hays County.

— The Economist, "High prices in America’s cities are reviving the suburbs," 19 Apr. 2018
Barroco will be located in the space formerly occupied by 87 West wine bar, between Dick's Sporting Goods and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "Barroco to expand to Crocker Park in Westlake," 18 Apr. 2018
Only recently, new tenants were announced for space previously occupied by Sears.

— jane ford-stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Layoffs could start in June at Southridge Boston Store as Bon-Ton liquidation proceeds," 18 Apr. 2018
Gayle Benson has no plans to move into the space previously occupied by her late husband, Tom Benson, the patriarch of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans.

— jeff duncan, NOLA.com, "Gayle Benson leading 'The Benson Way,' with collaboration, consistency," 14 Apr. 2018
The Sacramento store will open in a space formerly occupied by Save Mart.

— mark glover, sacbee, "Sprouts Farmers Market is planning a new site in Sacramento | The Sacramento Bee," 4 Apr. 2018
Po Chicken In Mesa, Sungchul Jo just opened Po Chicken in the space formerly occupied by Pho Bamboo, and this spartan storefront joint is making some great food.

— dominic armato, azcentral, "Eat Here First: 3 new restaurants to try before everybody else does," 13 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'occupy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year