Synonyms of preoccupied

preoccupied 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpīd 

as in distracted

lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions

too preoccupied with her worries to enjoy the meal

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distracted
• bewildered
• absent
• dazed
• confused
• absentminded
• abstracted
• oblivious
• forgetting
• absorbed
• forgetful
• unaware
• engrossed
• pensive
• dreaming
• daydreaming
• inattentive
• unconscious
• dreamy
• unmindful
• rapt
• heedless
• intent
• bemused
• unfocused
• unthinking
• clueless
• muddled
• scatterbrained
• unwitting
• faraway
• unperceptive
• vacant
• unfocussed
• unknowing
• unheeding
• foggy
• hazy
• befuddled
• unwary
• insensible
• befogged
• flighty
• birdbrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• engaged
• alert
• aware
• conscious
• wary
• attentive
• alive
• mindful
• vigilant
• watchful
• observant
• sharp
• observing
• wide-awake
• heedful
• heads-up
• open-eyed
• clearheaded

preoccupied

2 of 2

verb

past tense of preoccupy

as in interested

to be thought about or worried about by (someone) very often or constantly

The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• interested
• intrigued
• fascinated
• distracted
• occupied
• engrossed
• busied
• involved
• immersed
• attracted
• gripped
• obsessed
• engaged
• enthralled
• captivated
• absorbed
• bemused
• caught up
• charmed
• enwrapped
• bewitched
• enchanted
• beguiled
• allured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tired
• bored
• wearied
• jaded
• palled

Synonym Chooser

How is the word preoccupied distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of preoccupied are absentminded, absent, abstracted, and distracted. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

When would absent be a good substitute for preoccupied?

Although the words absent and preoccupied have much in common, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

In what contexts can absentminded take the place of preoccupied?

The meanings of absentminded and preoccupied largely overlap; however, absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

When is abstracted a more appropriate choice than preoccupied?

The words abstracted and preoccupied can be used in similar contexts, but abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

When is it sensible to use distracted instead of preoccupied?

While in some cases nearly identical to preoccupied, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

Examples of preoccupied in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Instead, the justices in the majority were more preoccupied by the possibility that its decision paralyzes future presidents from taking important and decisive action. —Cameron Joseph, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 July 2024

Like many other Gilbert parents, Weinberger had become preoccupied with Lord’s death and was a regular on the Facebook groups and Reddit forums in which the case was discussed in obsessive detail, and in occasionally conspiratorial tones. —Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 21 June 2024

Scholz will therefore be even more preoccupied in the coming 15 months with keeping his coalition together, leaving him little time or energy to deal with the EU’s challenges. —Matthias Matthijs, Foreign Affairs, 11 June 2024

But the narrator of All Fours is not overly preoccupied with death. —Christine Smallwood, Vulture, 6 May 2024