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
Guojun’s abiding preoccupation, Song told me, was propagating his seed.
—
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
That much of the internet saw Bad Bunny’s Grammys look as a harbinger for more violence is probably more of a projection of our own preoccupations and fears.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
The invisible line Shane, 33, was a closet gambler who hid his growing preoccupation from friends and family.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
For me, that says something about my preoccupation with monsters-in-disguise and the agency of women in both uncovering and conquering violence.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
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Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
That much of the internet saw Bad Bunny’s Grammys look as a harbinger for more violence is probably more of a projection of our own preoccupations and fears.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026
The invisible line Shane, 33, was a closet gambler who hid his growing preoccupation from friends and family.
—Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026
For me, that says something about my preoccupation with monsters-in-disguise and the agency of women in both uncovering and conquering violence.
—Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupation
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preoccupation. Accessed 12 Feb. 2026.
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