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
Greg Myre, NPR, 10 June 2026
More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) said a man in his 30s was shot and killed at a gas station in Kochav Yair, a town that sits on the Green Line demarcating Israel from the occupied West Bank.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
In addition to first-degree murder, McNally was convicted on two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm; shooting at an inhabited occupied structure/vehicle; and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, according to the DA's statement.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Kenneth McNally, 42, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of Samuel Holthaus, 59, along with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting at an inhabited occupied structure/vehicle and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Bigelow was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Last month, Aws al-Nasaan, 14, was gunned down in broad daylight in the small Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir, in the occupied West Bank.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
The vehicle was occupied by a front seat crash test dummy that was intended to represent an average-sized adult male and a back seat dummy that was intended to represent a small adult or a 12-year-old child.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Freddy Fermin came in to catch, moving into the cleanup spot Sheets had occupied.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
In that era, daytime television occupied a bigger space in the cultural firmament.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
At 15, Leon Schagrin was deported from occupied Poland to multiple ghettos and concentration camps.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
The slot formerly occupied by a performance from the Commodores will now be filled with the sound of a lone Gadsden flag flapping on its pole.
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
The move is a significant win for the GOP, allowing the state to eliminate one of two majority-Black districts occupied by Democrats, even as election experts and state administrators have warned of major confusion for voters with the late change.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 3 June 2026
The Grand Victoria — at the site currently occupied by Victoria Crossing East Mall — is expected to open in 2028.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026
Adjective
Israeli forces also clash regularly with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 10 June 2026
More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Israel’s Magen David Adom (MDA) said a man in his 30s was shot and killed at a gas station in Kochav Yair, a town that sits on the Green Line demarcating Israel from the occupied West Bank.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
More than 700,000 Israelis live in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in 1967 from Jordan and sought by the Palestinians for a future state.
—CBS News, 6 June 2026
In addition to first-degree murder, McNally was convicted on two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm; shooting at an inhabited occupied structure/vehicle; and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, according to the DA's statement.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Kenneth McNally, 42, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of Samuel Holthaus, 59, along with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting at an inhabited occupied structure/vehicle and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Bigelow was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Last month, Aws al-Nasaan, 14, was gunned down in broad daylight in the small Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir, in the occupied West Bank.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Verb
There are plenty of activities to keep them occupied, too, from cooking classes and Muay Thai kickboxing classes to snorkeling and spa sessions.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026
The vehicle was occupied by a front seat crash test dummy that was intended to represent an average-sized adult male and a back seat dummy that was intended to represent a small adult or a 12-year-old child.
—Keith Laing, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Freddy Fermin came in to catch, moving into the cleanup spot Sheets had occupied.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 June 2026
In that era, daytime television occupied a bigger space in the cultural firmament.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
At 15, Leon Schagrin was deported from occupied Poland to multiple ghettos and concentration camps.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 June 2026
The slot formerly occupied by a performance from the Commodores will now be filled with the sound of a lone Gadsden flag flapping on its pole.
—Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
The move is a significant win for the GOP, allowing the state to eliminate one of two majority-Black districts occupied by Democrats, even as election experts and state administrators have warned of major confusion for voters with the late change.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 3 June 2026
The Grand Victoria — at the site currently occupied by Victoria Crossing East Mall — is expected to open in 2028.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupied
Adjective
-
Through workshops, brain-health nutrition and other innovative tools such as exergaming — interactive technology that combines exercise with gaming — residents can explore new ways to stay engaged and nurture continued vitality.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
That underdeveloped online channel is likely why the David Bellinger of Mizuho said many of these newer digital customers appear less engaged with Costco’s traditional warehouse experience.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
To my surprise, that interested him—most men wouldn’t have wanted to hear about it.—
Joyce Johnson,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
-
Around the same time, Barwick and his then-student, Peter Haine, independently came up with a slightly different definition in order to answer a particular question in category theory that interested them.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Visitors from around the world now regularly stop in, and Cook says that drag in her hometown has never been busier.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
From a viral sand cat to an airport explosives arrest, the Sacramento region saw a busy stretch of news in early June.—
Ruyuan Li. Summary produced by AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Since becoming national team coach three and a half years ago, the Catalan has immersed himself in Portuguese history and football culture.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
-
In this, intact components were immersed in a specialized electrochemical bath to restore 95 percent of the dead batteries.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Some information has been presented in court filings or uncovered by journalists and by one especially diligent state legislator, Anna Eskamani, from Orlando.—
Eric Schlosser,
The Atlantic,
4 June 2026
-
His brothers are diligent about self-care too.—
Mykenna Maniece,
Vogue,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The Condé Nast Traveler team was particularly intrigued by the film's locations, which range from New York to the Dominican Republic.—
Ruchira Sharma,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
-
He was intrigued by the title and took it home.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The abuse, which police said involved a 14-year-old, happened between July and November 2024.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
-
Authorities said earlier that Baker was responsible for or involved in the deaths of three men — Robert Shine and John Carse, both 69, and a 79-year-old man who has not been identified.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Jim Jacoby, another Atlanta developer, was also fascinated by the Atlantic Steel property, leading their paths to intersect.—
Kelly Yamanouchi,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
-
He was fascinated by Fey's scar When Fey was 5 years old, she was attacked by a stranger while outside of her home in Upper Darby, Penn.—
Desiree Ossandon,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupied. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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