as in to fascinate
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 preoccupy
And from the excerpts, the reader learns that Hermia, too, is preoccupied with androgyny.
—
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Does her mind, preoccupied with business, fail to grapple with the intimate problems of home?
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The problem of persistent economic sluggishness, the inability to reenergize the powerful engines of rapid growth, has preoccupied both policymakers and business leaders.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Meaning, your child cannot be preoccupied by a cellular device.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Does her mind, preoccupied with business, fail to grapple with the intimate problems of home?
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Mar. 2026
The problem of persistent economic sluggishness, the inability to reenergize the powerful engines of rapid growth, has preoccupied both policymakers and business leaders.
—Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
Meaning, your child cannot be preoccupied by a cellular device.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
-
In the book, Oppenheimer noted a family legend that Kennedy was fascinated by bugs as an infant; by the age of nine, the book said, Kennedy had a pet collection that included raccoons, rats, a horse, a calf, lizards, chickens, and snakes.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The price of rotisserie and roast chicken has long fascinated New Yorkers.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If someone dominates the conversation, pivot with a smart question — try to say something that could interest quieter individuals, so everyone gets a chance to speak.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Students who are more intentional about how their major connects to real opportunities — that actually interest them — tend to pull ahead.—
Rasheem Rooke,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The band members took note of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl triumph, entirely in Spanish, and they’re intrigued by the idea of following his lead.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Apple Basket Many products in the collection also feature an apple motif, including a charming pillow and even a wooden salt cellar and doormat, but we’re most intrigued by the bamboo and rattan apple basket.—
Joseph Erbentraut,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Mohan admits she had been distracted by personal problems, and wishes Robby well on his sabbatical.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Then the waiter gets distracted.—
Laura House,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Russia occupies about 20% of Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, Kahan occupies a funny spot in the pop-music cosmos—music for people who own too much performance fleece to embrace the bombast of Taylor Swift but aren’t quite feral enough for the cacophony of Geese.—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
