preoccupied

adjective pre·oc·cu·pied \ (ˌ)prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpīd \

|Updated on: 13 Jul 2018

Examples: preoccupied in a Sentence

Definition of preoccupied

1 : previously applied to another group and unavailable for use in a new sense —used of a biological generic or specific name

2 a : lost in thought; also : absorbed in some preoccupation

b : already occupied

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Examples of preoccupied in a Sentence

too preoccupied with her worries to enjoy the meal

Recent Examples of preoccupied from the Web

Ultimately, advocates say, many people in poverty are too preoccupied trying to survive to worry about nutrition.

— alfred lubrano, Philly.com, "Attacking people in poverty for buying birthday cakes and other treats with food stamps," 17 June 2018
In this country, USA Track & Field, the sport's national governing body seemingly has been too preoccupied with messes of its own making to do much about marketing its athletes.

— ken goe, OregonLive.com, "What if you held a meet and nobody outside the stadium noticed? Oregon track & field rundown," 22 May 2018
Clubs became preoccupied with crowd control, often herding groups of spectators into large metal pens, and in 1989, at Hillsborough, in Sheffield, ninety-six Liverpool fans were crushed to death.

— leo robson, The New Yorker, "How We Watch Soccer Now," 5 Dec. 2016
The father of two and reality star is a little preoccupied with other projects.

— danielle tullo, House Beautiful, "Sorry, But, Tarek El Moussa Isn't Dating Right Now," 15 June 2018
With a Dominican trip on the horizon, Williams didn’t seem too preoccupied with contract talks on the final day of minicamp.

— joseph person, charlotteobserver, "Next Panthers lineman set to get high-dollar, long-term deal? He's focused on vacation," 14 June 2018
In his mind these sorts of gods did not answer Monday, perhaps too preoccupied watching that breathless track meet like everyone else (including the referees who missed Ryan Reaves’ obvious cross-check on the game-winning goal).

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "Braden Holtby Delivers a Resilient Game 2 Performance to Secure Washington's Win," 31 May 2018
The meditative, seemingly preoccupied woman, her ornate clothes and the interior décor blur into a nearly monochromatic canvas.

— WSJ, "When Flower Arranging Meets Art History: A Pastel June Bouquet," 31 May 2018
Mary’s father, William Godwin (Stephen Dillane), is a loving but preoccupied Enlightenment thinker, eminent, admired, and poor.

— ty burr, BostonGlobe.com, "Mary Shelley’s monster hit," 30 May 2018

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

First Known Use of preoccupied

1790

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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preoccupied Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of preoccupied

abstracted, preoccupied, absent, absentminded, distracted mean inattentive to what claims or demands consideration. abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.