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
Liberal Democrats who criticized Harris during her unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign have been less vocal about their concerns four years later, preoccupied with the political threat posed by Trump.
—
Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Oct. 2024
Butterworth is preoccupied with doubles, particularly the kind of copy that has the power to sap its original.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Niel, a former hacker who never went to college, has always been preoccupied with disruption.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 20 Sep. 2024
They may be preoccupied, bored, frustrated, or unimpressed with your first few answers.
—Robin Ryan, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preoccupy 
Naomi Lim, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Oct. 2024
Butterworth is preoccupied with doubles, particularly the kind of copy that has the power to sap its original.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2024
Niel, a former hacker who never went to college, has always been preoccupied with disruption.
—Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 20 Sep. 2024
They may be preoccupied, bored, frustrated, or unimpressed with your first few answers.
—Robin Ryan, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preoccupy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'preoccupy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near preoccupy
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preoccupy. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
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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