preoccupation
noun
pre·oc·cu·pa·tion
(ˌ)prē-ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shən 
1
: an act of preoccupying : the state of being preoccupied
2
a
: extreme or excessive concern with something
a preoccupation with money
b
: something that preoccupies one
We need to better understand the problems and preoccupations of our clients.
Examples of preoccupation in a Sentence
We need to better understand the problems and preoccupations of our clients.
the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age
Recent Examples on the Web
Anxious attachment involves fear of abandonment, intense need for closeness, difficulty acting independently especially with major decisions, and preoccupation with relationships as a way to feel good about themselves.
—
Emily Shiffer, Parents, 2 Dec. 2025
The first version celebrated big beat and French house music, but this one reminds us that PinkPantheress emerged from an age of preoccupation with digital realms and video-game soundtracks.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Let’s define art—in a broad sense—as, at heart, a preoccupation that rejects the alienated labor of capitalist society, whether to do something meaningful or simply for the sake of play.
—Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
As a cultural preoccupation metamorphosis has attracted the attention of artists from Orwell to Ovid, philosophers from Plato to Parfit, and followers of every god or son of god from Jupiter to Jesus to Jagannath.
—Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
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Emily Shiffer, Parents, 2 Dec. 2025
The first version celebrated big beat and French house music, but this one reminds us that PinkPantheress emerged from an age of preoccupation with digital realms and video-game soundtracks.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Let’s define art—in a broad sense—as, at heart, a preoccupation that rejects the alienated labor of capitalist society, whether to do something meaningful or simply for the sake of play.
—Diedrich Diederichsen, Artforum, 1 Dec. 2025
As a cultural preoccupation metamorphosis has attracted the attention of artists from Orwell to Ovid, philosophers from Plato to Parfit, and followers of every god or son of god from Jupiter to Jesus to Jagannath.
—Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preoccupation. Accessed 14 Dec. 2025.
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