as in engaged
involved in often constant activity
the boy is constantly occupied, usually with sports or schoolwork
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interested
to hold the attention of
a puzzle will occupy that child for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of occupied
Laura Bassett, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
According to her arrest affidavit, after stealing the truck and being stopped, Giza struck two occupied police vehicles and accelerated toward uniformed officers on foot.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Two rounds struck the hospital, one of which entered an occupied room.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across the sky from Israel's Iron Dome intercepting missiles overhead.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across the sky from Israel’s Iron Dome intercepting missiles overhead.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
Concerns expressed of ‘new, extensive’ war Palestinians in the occupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across the sky from Israel’s Iron Dome intercepting missiles overhead.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Russian authorities have reported more than 1,000 civilian deaths inside Russia, including in occupied Crimea.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Israel has attempted to deepen control of the occupied West Bank in recent months.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
The Orange County Board of Supervisors is guaranteed at least a bit of fresh representation this election cycle, as four candidates with civic leadership experience will contest for the open 4th District seat occupied by outgoing Supervisor Doug Chaffee.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
The Quarter’s website map lists 14 of its 50 tenant spaces currently occupied.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Their films occupied the top box office spot for 15 weeks domestically and 16 weeks globally, accounted for three spots on the list of the year’s 10 highest-grossing films and collectively took in more than $4 billion worldwide.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
It was previously occupied by Raymond Chandler, the British-American novelist who wrote The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye, according to the Los Angeles Times.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2026
Since every seat in the studio needs to be occupied, the line is used to fill in the empty seats.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
These buildings are already built and occupied.
—Rafael Leon, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Those still remaining in the camps are those who had lived in areas now occupied or destroyed by the Thai army.
—John Vink, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The attached advisory lists Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
—Laura Bassett, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Mar. 2026
According to her arrest affidavit, after stealing the truck and being stopped, Giza struck two occupied police vehicles and accelerated toward uniformed officers on foot.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Two rounds struck the hospital, one of which entered an occupied room.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Mar. 2026
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across the sky from Israel's Iron Dome intercepting missiles overhead.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across the sky from Israel’s Iron Dome intercepting missiles overhead.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
Concerns expressed of ‘new, extensive’ war Palestinians in the occupied West Bank said they were largely unfazed as war erupted Saturday, barely pausing as booms echoed across the sky from Israel’s Iron Dome intercepting missiles overhead.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Russian authorities have reported more than 1,000 civilian deaths inside Russia, including in occupied Crimea.
—Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2026
Israel has attempted to deepen control of the occupied West Bank in recent months.
—Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
For many longtime viewers, the conclusion of that program marks the fading of a format that once occupied a central place in American culture.
—Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Mar. 2026
The Orange County Board of Supervisors is guaranteed at least a bit of fresh representation this election cycle, as four candidates with civic leadership experience will contest for the open 4th District seat occupied by outgoing Supervisor Doug Chaffee.
—Claire Wang, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
The Quarter’s website map lists 14 of its 50 tenant spaces currently occupied.
—Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026
Their films occupied the top box office spot for 15 weeks domestically and 16 weeks globally, accounted for three spots on the list of the year’s 10 highest-grossing films and collectively took in more than $4 billion worldwide.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
It was previously occupied by Raymond Chandler, the British-American novelist who wrote The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye, according to the Los Angeles Times.
—Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2026
Since every seat in the studio needs to be occupied, the line is used to fill in the empty seats.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
These buildings are already built and occupied.
—Rafael Leon, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Those still remaining in the camps are those who had lived in areas now occupied or destroyed by the Thai army.
—John Vink, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupied
Adjective
-
Selling only in the Golden State at first will allow the company to learn from an engaged customer base, said Yamaguchi.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Later at a restaurant, the rest of the Clyburn clan is more engaged with their devices than conversing as a family.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
These stories are not only fun to read, but also provide valuable information about ideas that interested early Christians.—
Christy Cobb,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The character that interested me was (his alter ego) Norman Osborn.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Jet fuel prices are rising as the war in the Middle East disrupts global oil supplies, putting cost pressure on airlines as the busy summer travel season approaches.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Ask the staff for a quieter room that ideally doesn’t face the main road; typical of the city, Admiralty Way is constantly busy, and in the rainy season heavy thunderstorms can be enough to wake one out of sleep—light sleepers will do well to pick a room that’s more internal.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The hardest problem in science The contents of our mental lives and the physical fabric of the reality we are immersed in appear to belong to two distinct domains.—
Conor Feehly,
Big Think,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Once immersed in clinical practice, her attention centered on cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics, where precision meets emotion and subtle changes can influence confidence and self-perception.—
Sixteen Ramos,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The three young players I'm most intrigued by are third baseman Kyle Karros, first baseman TJ Rumfield, and utility player Ryan Ritter.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the head of the firm (Beau Bridges), is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Davis played 686 snaps — a 298-snap increase from the previous season — and was diligent about his fitness and conditioning.—
Zach Berman,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The same goes for diligent skin care.—
Elizabeth Gulino,
Allure,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the movie, Kay becomes involved with the young Ping-Pong hustler Marty Mauser, played by Timothée Chalamet.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The research is being led by specialists involved in China’s air-defense radar development.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Spielberg has been fascinated by the UFO topic his whole career, with his 1977 classic Close Encounters of the Third Kind still considered by many to be the most compelling dramatization of the subject.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Shawn, too, is wracked and fascinated by the human ability to smile and smile and be a villain.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupied. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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