as in interesting
to hold the attention of
a puzzle will occupy that child for hours
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Recent Examples of occupying
Nvidia and Supermicro were both founded in Silicon Valley in 1993, with each occupying different niches in the burgeoning tech industry.
—
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Plans also call for an acute rehabilitation department in the second East Campus’ west medical tower, occupying space that was unused at the time of purchase.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Jafarzadeh said that the campaign is pitched as a patriotic duty, and the mobilization of civilians helps the regime by both replenishing manpower and occupying members of the public that could otherwise be swept up into future protests.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Apr. 2026
Those questions signaled their belief that anyone occupying that office should maintain their distance from the president and uphold the Justice Department’s independence.
—Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
More than a century later the Yaʿrubid dynasty drove the Portuguese from the Omani coast, recapturing Muscat in 1650 and then occupying Portuguese settlements in the Persian Gulf and East African coastal regions.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Family-friendly movies occupying a bigger slice of cinemas is partially because adult moviegoing has waned.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump’s order would upend the long-standing view that the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, and federal law since 1940 confer citizenship on everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions for the children of foreign diplomats and those born to a foreign occupying force.
—Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
If your fantasy roster is light on steals, David Hamilton has made a pair of early starts for the Brewers, occupying the strong side of a third base platoon.
—Andy Behrens, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Plans also call for an acute rehabilitation department in the second East Campus’ west medical tower, occupying space that was unused at the time of purchase.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Jafarzadeh said that the campaign is pitched as a patriotic duty, and the mobilization of civilians helps the regime by both replenishing manpower and occupying members of the public that could otherwise be swept up into future protests.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 4 Apr. 2026
Those questions signaled their belief that anyone occupying that office should maintain their distance from the president and uphold the Justice Department’s independence.
—Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 3 Apr. 2026
More than a century later the Yaʿrubid dynasty drove the Portuguese from the Omani coast, recapturing Muscat in 1650 and then occupying Portuguese settlements in the Persian Gulf and East African coastal regions.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Family-friendly movies occupying a bigger slice of cinemas is partially because adult moviegoing has waned.
—ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
Trump’s order would upend the long-standing view that the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, and federal law since 1940 confer citizenship on everyone born on American soil, with narrow exceptions for the children of foreign diplomats and those born to a foreign occupying force.
—Mark Sherman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
If your fantasy roster is light on steals, David Hamilton has made a pair of early starts for the Brewers, occupying the strong side of a third base platoon.
—Andy Behrens, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupying
Verb
-
Try immersing it in cold water for about 30 minutes to help revive it—or incorporate it as an ingredient.—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Of course, your chair should make a visual statement, but no one wants a crick in the neck or a sore lower back after a day of immersing yourself in your latest fiction obsession.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There’s familiarity there, but there’s also intriguing talent with Thompson.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The likes of Xabi Alonso, Enzo Maresca and Roberto De Zerbi are intriguing new options, but none offer the combination of experience, tactical flexibility and past silverware than Tuchel, a manager who brings solidity in and out of possession.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Murillo said the Mining Arc later became a financial lifeline for the Venezuelan regime as oil revenues collapsed, with gold extraction expanding rapidly under opaque arrangements involving state players and armed groups.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The sport’s biggest star is a 50-year-old man who during its biggest week is currently overseas recovering from his latest off-the-course incident involving the police.—
Mac Engel
April 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The song vamps where Railings used to weave and wind, its ever-busying rhythm section building tension atop its harmonic simplicity.—
Craig Heed,
Pitchfork,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Had Steve Smith been fit and available to play, then the 31-year-old would have been patrolling another part of the field; maybe busying himself in the covers, or chirping away from under a lid at short leg.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
21 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
His campaign goals included reinstating and expanding bus services, attracting additional low-income housing options through federal and state grants, and increasing resource distribution by the city to homeless residents and those struggling with addiction.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
As partners in the Gold Building in Hartford, Shelbourne has been successful in attracting new, higher profile tenants such insurer Sun Life and Fuss & O’Neill, the engineering firm.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupying. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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