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.
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Recent Examples of preoccupy
Well, to start with, creators Matt and Ross Duffer have always been preoccupied with movies.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
Yet anyone who has tried this, or really done any sort of serious creative work, knows that your central concerns will slip to the surface while your conscious mind is preoccupied with form.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 8 Dec. 2025
As for why North Texans weren’t head over heels for the World Cup, WFAA pointed to the local sports world being preoccupied with its own teams.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
Although his oeuvre was preoccupied with love in all its shades, the image of James Baldwin that endures in American memory is profoundly isolated and aromantic.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Dec. 2025
Yet anyone who has tried this, or really done any sort of serious creative work, knows that your central concerns will slip to the surface while your conscious mind is preoccupied with form.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 8 Dec. 2025
As for why North Texans weren’t head over heels for the World Cup, WFAA pointed to the local sports world being preoccupied with its own teams.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Dec. 2025
Although his oeuvre was preoccupied with love in all its shades, the image of James Baldwin that endures in American memory is profoundly isolated and aromantic.
—The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
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Details of the service were kept private, but the family's public show of solidarity in turning out to support Caroline is typical of the Kennedy dynasty, which has fascinated Americans for decades.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Why does Kubrick’s work continue to fascinate, thrill, and move us?—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The one who interests me most is midfielder Ruben Neves.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
2 Jan. 2026
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Check for special events and workshops that might interest your guests and transform a museum visit into a more engaging experience.—
Bill Bootz,
Charlotte Observer,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Will he be intrigued in hiring him?—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Jan. 2026
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Stefanski, then the Browns’ head coach, was intrigued by Dart’s talent and makeup.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The goal was to ensure the makeup didn’t distract the audience but rather felt invisible.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
10 Jan. 2026
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Even the most emotionally invested of us can get distracted.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The final part of the dormancy evolution puzzle is what ecologists refer to as the ecological niche a species occupies — the specific set of conditions that species evolved to exploit or the conditions under which that species is likely to be more successful when compared to other species.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
9 Jan. 2026
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Inside, authorities found fresh groceries, animals, and other signs that people are actively occupying some of the units.—
Nina Burns,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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