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 Philippine military was preoccupied in recent decades with domestic insurgencies.
—
Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The result is a program full of girls overly preoccupied with how to present themselves as potential leaders while still figuring out what feminine strength really looks like.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
The kids of residents described looking out after themselves because their parents were preoccupied with the Synanon game.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
The research results will be used to develop future directions and innovations for the company, going far beyond the styles and designs that preoccupy other furniture companies.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
But parts of that wall remained unfinished and other parts were riddled with gaps, and now the Border Patrol was preoccupied with the record number of asylum seekers at the border.
—Eli Saslow Erin Schaff, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
Read the full Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)
A dream may preoccupy you emotionally today.
—USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Hodge said Friday he was preoccupied with family matters, among them his mother's struggle with major heart issues.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
Throughout, the novel is preoccupied by the constant synthesizing required of immigrants, for whom an adoptive country can hold the fascination of a work of art.
—The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
Rebecca Tan, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024
The result is a program full of girls overly preoccupied with how to present themselves as potential leaders while still figuring out what feminine strength really looks like.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2024
The kids of residents described looking out after themselves because their parents were preoccupied with the Synanon game.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 1 Apr. 2024
The research results will be used to develop future directions and innovations for the company, going far beyond the styles and designs that preoccupy other furniture companies.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
But parts of that wall remained unfinished and other parts were riddled with gaps, and now the Border Patrol was preoccupied with the record number of asylum seekers at the border.
—Eli Saslow Erin Schaff, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2024
Read the full Sagittarius Daily Horoscope Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)
A dream may preoccupy you emotionally today.
—USA TODAY, 27 Mar. 2024
Hodge said Friday he was preoccupied with family matters, among them his mother's struggle with major heart issues.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024
Throughout, the novel is preoccupied by the constant synthesizing required of immigrants, for whom an adoptive country can hold the fascination of a work of art.
—The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024
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 23 Apr. 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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