OCCUPY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

occupy

verb

ˈä-kyə-ˌpī

Definition of occupy

as in to interest

to hold the attention of a puzzle will occupy that child for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of occupy If Chinese inventories become one of the last lines of defense against damaging global price spikes, Beijing may come to occupy a comparable position. — Jason Bordoff, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026 Its real interest, though, seems to lie beyond both DC Universe lore and the procedural tropes of the rural murder investigations that occupy most of its runtime. — Judy Berman, Time, 14 Aug. 2026 Invited by Adina Beg Khan, the former Mughal governor of the province, the Maratha forces advanced into the Punjab in 1757–58 and occupied Lahore. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 The site could be bought by an owner that also intends to occupy the existing buildings, marketing materials show. — George Avalos, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occupy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupy

Verb

Short trips and conversations with daily contacts, siblings and relatives will interest you.

— Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 10 Aug. 2026
But what really interested us with this movie was trying to understand the humanity and searching for and exploring the love and the loyalty to characters to have a dialogue with an audience and not do it for the sake of ego or shock.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of interest

Verb

Nationally, emergency medicine physicians are doing so by advocating for improved helmeting and educating parents of the risks involved with e-scooters.

— Narmeen Khan, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
In speaking with folks who live here, they are thrilled the city is now getting involved but are hesitant to claim any kind of victory just yet.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of involve

Verb

Fersko-Weiss had a friend who’d recently become a birth doula, and the concept intrigued him.

— Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
When Kansas City launched a program to help local businesses fill vacant storefronts during the FIFA World Cup, Béty Lê Shackelford was intrigued.

— Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of intrigue

Verb

For a famous California music festival, Tons’ team installed the Antarctic Dome, a space where festivalgoers could get away from the heat while immersing themselves in a display of stunning visual art.

— K.H. Koehler, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Noise-canceling earbuds Noise-canceling earbuds allow high schoolers to immerse themselves in remote learning.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of immerse

Verb

Ruston anticipates Loco Coyote to be open Wednesday through Sundays, so locals can enjoy a few weekdays before the tourist crowd busies the restaurant during the weekends.

— Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 July 2026
Gourmands have plenty to visit around the island, from harvesters of fleur de sel, to producers of wine and the local pineau spirit, to busy oyster farms.

— Caitlin Gunther, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026

Definition of busy

Verb

The 31-year-old rapper, a member of the megagroup NCT and the leader of its subgroup NCT 127, has seemingly always been fascinated by merging different genres to create a new song.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Questions around beauty and longing recur, as do keywords (such as ‘password’), names, references and scenic features, but what fascinated me most is that in principle each episode could be read as a little patchy universe on its own.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

Both lures are intended to attract bears while not providing them with actual food that can habituate them to humans.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
The Tribune Editorial Board recently highlighted Cincinnati’s readiness plan, which anticipates attracting climate migrants in the decades ahead.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of attract

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occupies

occupy

occupying

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“Occupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupy. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of occupy

verb

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