preoccupies; preoccupied; preoccupying
: to be thought about or worried about by (someone) very often or constantly
The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.
Her family problems continue to preoccupy her. [=she continues to spend a lot of time thinking/worrying about her family problems]
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“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/preoccupy. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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