preoccupy
verb
pre·oc·cu·py
(ˌ)prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpī 
preoccupied; preoccupying; preoccupies
1
: to engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or preferentially
2
: to take possession of or fill beforehand or before another
Examples of preoccupy in a Sentence
The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.
Recent Examples on the Web
The authorities were also preoccupied by a different kind of foreign invasion.
—
Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
In the seconds before the shooting, the officer in the black beanie is turned away from Pretti, preoccupied with another protester.
—Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
His obituaries were preoccupied with the fact that some of his works were very long.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
When boomers were growing up, society was preoccupied with food security and having a roof over their heads, says Amy DeBlase, LMHC, LPC, PMH-C, clinical director and supervisor at Let's Talk Psychological Wellness.
—Holly Garcia, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
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Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
In the seconds before the shooting, the officer in the black beanie is turned away from Pretti, preoccupied with another protester.
—Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
His obituaries were preoccupied with the fact that some of his works were very long.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
When boomers were growing up, society was preoccupied with food security and having a roof over their heads, says Amy DeBlase, LMHC, LPC, PMH-C, clinical director and supervisor at Let's Talk Psychological Wellness.
—Holly Garcia, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preoccupy. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preoccupy
verb
pre·oc·cu·py
(ˈ)prē-ˈäk-yə-ˌpī
1
: to hold the attention of beforehand
2
: to take possession of before another
preoccupation
noun
(ˌ)prē-ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shən
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