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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of occupied
Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Its power has withered amid years without peace negotiations and Israel tightening its grip on the occupied West Bank.
—Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
The technocrats, many of whom are career officials from the Palestinian Authority that governs parts of the occupied West Bank, have instead spent their time in meetings, making policy plans for their eventual return to the Gaza Strip and its mounting humanitarian challenges.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
Don’t call 911 unless a tree has fallen on an occupied home or downed power lines.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Attitudes toward Israel among EU member states, already strained by Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, have hardened further amid the ongoing Israeli invasion of Lebanon and a new law passed on the death penalty for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
—April 21, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Europe turned its attention to the Palestinians on Monday as the election defeat of Israel ally Victor Orban in Hungary gives new momentum to efforts addressing Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
When Likud, the right-wing party of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, first came to power in 1977, settlements in the occupied West Bank gained legal status in Israeli law.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
Daniel Chong, 104 minutes Pixar’s latest family-friendly charmer depicts a land war — over a patch of earth that was once occupied by beavers and other wildlife and that human developers are eager to blow up for a highway.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Away goes the space normally occupied by pickup trucks and Weber grills.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Judging by the newish seating in the plaza a few blocks away between Grand Central Terminal and One Vanderbilt, it will not be permanently occupied by unhoused people.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Apr. 2026
Heppner lost several family members to concentration camps, including his maternal grandfather, who was murdered in Sobibor in occupied Poland with two brothers.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The brand has also looked to juice interest through this year’s Beijing Auto Show, where BYD has occupied an entire exhibition hall.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
There is no access to the area in southern Lebanon now occupied by Israel – not for residents or journalists.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
And until now, vertebrate predators such as large marine reptiles, sharks and fishes were thought to have commanded the seas, Iba said, but the fossils hint that octopuses may also have occupied the top of the food web.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
An Israeli military battalion that assaulted and detained a CNN team in the occupied West Bank has been redeployed after a one-month suspension, an Israeli security source told CNN.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Its power has withered amid years without peace negotiations and Israel tightening its grip on the occupied West Bank.
—Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
The technocrats, many of whom are career officials from the Palestinian Authority that governs parts of the occupied West Bank, have instead spent their time in meetings, making policy plans for their eventual return to the Gaza Strip and its mounting humanitarian challenges.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
Don’t call 911 unless a tree has fallen on an occupied home or downed power lines.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Attitudes toward Israel among EU member states, already strained by Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, have hardened further amid the ongoing Israeli invasion of Lebanon and a new law passed on the death penalty for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
—April 21, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Europe turned its attention to the Palestinians on Monday as the election defeat of Israel ally Victor Orban in Hungary gives new momentum to efforts addressing Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
When Likud, the right-wing party of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, first came to power in 1977, settlements in the occupied West Bank gained legal status in Israeli law.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Beginning in the late 1970s, it was occupied by actor, puppeteer, and voice artist Chuck McCann and his wife, William Morris agent Betty Fanning, who lived there for 45 years until their deaths in 2018 and early 2026, respectively.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
Daniel Chong, 104 minutes Pixar’s latest family-friendly charmer depicts a land war — over a patch of earth that was once occupied by beavers and other wildlife and that human developers are eager to blow up for a highway.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Away goes the space normally occupied by pickup trucks and Weber grills.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Judging by the newish seating in the plaza a few blocks away between Grand Central Terminal and One Vanderbilt, it will not be permanently occupied by unhoused people.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Apr. 2026
Heppner lost several family members to concentration camps, including his maternal grandfather, who was murdered in Sobibor in occupied Poland with two brothers.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The brand has also looked to juice interest through this year’s Beijing Auto Show, where BYD has occupied an entire exhibition hall.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
There is no access to the area in southern Lebanon now occupied by Israel – not for residents or journalists.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
And until now, vertebrate predators such as large marine reptiles, sharks and fishes were thought to have commanded the seas, Iba said, but the fossils hint that octopuses may also have occupied the top of the food web.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupied
Adjective
-
By identifying moments when viewers are likely to be more engaged, however, TV companies hope to gain some of their pricing power.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
-
In other words, Reddit is tracking its users and only punishing only the most engaged ones.—
Jon Christian,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As to why the format interested him, Hawley pointed to a similarity with Fargo.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cindy would give Ann gourmet popcorn or maybe a sweatshirt from her alma mater, while Ann would give Cindy a special book on a topic that interested her, or maybe an old batch of family recipes.—
Ross Channing Reed,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
SpaceX was responsible for most of the 71 rockets launched last year from Vandenberg, one of the world’s busiest spaceports.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
-
In response, Asia has been busy implementing a range of measures, from restricting energy use to introducing fuel subsidies, re-starting coal plants, and imposing export restrictions.—
Wendy Cutler,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The Oak Leaf Trail is one of my favorite ways to get immersed in Milwaukee’s beauty.—
Kate Van Dyke,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, the speaker's three class-D amplifiers, subwoofers, and both front- and rear-facing tweeters ensure that everyone can get immersed in its soundscape.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
He was particularly intrigued by schizophrenia—the pinnacle of madness and the most complex puzzle of all.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Many people like me — scientists and coffee enthusiasts — were intrigued by a long-term study that found that those who drank multiple cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop dementia.—
Richard M. Ransohoff,
Washington Post,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These trees need proper attention to grow to their full potential—pruning is essential, as is being diligent against pests.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Defenseman Jacob Moverare was highlighted with the Daryl Evans Youth Hockey Service Award for his diligent and enthusiastic work with the Kings’ learn-to-play program.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The incident May 1 involved a bulk carrier southwest of Al Mukalla, Yemen, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations service.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
2 May 2026
-
Sleep stages differ in important ways, Monika Schönauer, a sleep researcher at the University of Freiburg, who wasn’t involved in the study, told me.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
We were fascinated by a broader trend — covered locally by the Chicago Sun-Times and nationally by outlets including CNBC and The New York Times — of people turning the humble 1040 into a form of civil disobedience.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
She was fascinated by the difference in speed between human activity and, say, a stone striking water, rippling outwards.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupied. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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