OCCUPYING Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

occupying

verb

present participle of occupy

as in interesting

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 occupying Opened in 2021 and occupying 10 floors of a 58-floor high rise (the third tallest in the city), its 153 rooms are elegant but comfortable. — Wendy O'Dea, Robb Report, 12 Nov. 2026 One health worker in Mekele recalled Ethiopian forces occupying a hospital and placing the uniforms of Tigrayan rebels on the floor and forcing staff to step on them. — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 10 Nov. 2026 The past 12 years have each ranked among the hottest on record, with 2023 through 2026 occupying the top four spots. — Oliver Trapnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Nov. 2026 Nathan Timmer of the protest group Geef Tegengas, a phrase that translates as Push Back, told local broadcaster AT5 that protesters were occupying the site in an effort to stop construction. — Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026 Democrats hold a supermajority in that chamber, too, occupying 24 of the 35 seats. — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026 Let the object earn its place by giving you pleasure, rather than simply occupying a shelf. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 4 Nov. 2026 The probe could mark the start of a tougher response to illicit operators occupying sites, following years of complaints from some of the world’s biggest mining companies. — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026 Marysia enjoys occupying public space for extravagant reasons. — Olivia Kan-Sperling, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupying

Verb

Related Stories From football camp to visceral, harrowing sequences of war in the Pacific, the story takes audiences through it all, immersing them in the experience.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 31 Oct. 2026
Bass did, riding her bicycle to campaign headquarters and immersing herself in the senator’s bid for the White House.

— Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of immersing

Verb

Mexico City design studio Panorammma applies the historic armor material to intriguing chairs, lights, and vases.

— Francesca Perry, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026
The female forward is in front of the camera, behind the camera, really getting women, intriguing them to come to the service and watch.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of intriguing

Verb

The company also used the model to reproduce computationally a finding involving inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026
With under five minutes remaining in regulation, Pelicans reserve forward Julian Reese — the brother of Atlanta Dream superstar Angel Reese — received a technical foul for his role in a dustup involving Clowney.

— Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of involving

Verb

From bizarre medical tests to a mass phobia of beans, here are 14 surprising facts that reveal just how inventive, eccentric, and fascinating the ancient Greeks really were.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
The trailer promises fascinating new characters, like one man who lives on a sailboat for most of the year.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of fascinating

Verb

After busying ourselves with fly fishing on the Snake River, rafting, horseback riding and touring Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, there hasn’t been much time for reflection.

— Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2026
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

Definition of busying

Verb

Airborne wind energy is attracting international interest because winds at higher altitudes can be stronger and more consistent than those near the surface.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
The results suggest that even a president with an extraordinary gift for attracting attention cannot necessarily lend that gift to someone else.

— Anna Rahmanan, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of attracting

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occupy

occupying

occur

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“Occupying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupying. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of occupying

verb

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