as in fascinates
to be thought about or worried about by (someone) very often or constantly
The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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 preoccupies
In other versions, the demon preoccupies himself with people who’ve fallen asleep in church, carefully noting down every snore.
—
JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupies
Verb
-
How golfers rely on — and leverage — technology fascinates Skenes, from the numbers culled relative to swing speed and ball flight to how their bodies must be in sync to generate so much club speed.—
Tribune News Service,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2026
-
What fascinates me as a writer is what is sometimes left out of the historical record, what gets tucked away in odd places.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Hopefully, there’s a spot that intrigues you.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The menu has a lot of delicious choices, but the one that intrigues my girlfriend is their overnight oat bowl.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Also consider local hiking groups, fitness classes, or dance classes—and don't be afraid to try a few different things to find what most interests you.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
-
What interests you about the intersection of film and fashion?—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Border security is not the mission of the GLO, and using this office for that purpose distracts from its core responsibilities, managing public land, supporting public education, assisting veterans, and overseeing disaster recovery.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Suicide is tragic, and prevention is essential — but not through research that distracts from the real risks facing NFL players and young athletes.—
Eleanor M. Perfetto,
STAT,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupies. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
