PREOCCUPY Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

preoccupy

verb

Definition of preoccupy

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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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 For much of the following century, food photography functioned as a sort of ethnographic art, a form of restrained realism preoccupied with light and shadow, shape and symbolism. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026 In the meantime, you’ll be preoccupied with more mundane things this month, like organizing your budget and catching up on correspondence. — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 That leaves companies such as Micron caught between strong underlying demand and a market preoccupied with macroeconomic risks. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026 The article emphasizes that Le Guin’s books are preoccupied with nature. — Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preoccupy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy

Verb

So that fascinated me, the fact that these fields were somehow kind of edgy in terms of our definition of the scientific method and so on.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
What fascinates me most isn't simply whether Wagner can squeeze 621 miles out of this massive battery.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

And while the participants were intrigued by her camera, the photographs themselves were often secondary.

— Zoe Whitfield, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
But the highly competitive pricing figures to be worth the wait for current VR headset users and folks who've been intrigued by the Vision Pro but have held off due to the aforementioned drawbacks.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of intrigue

Verb

The text was crisp and easy to read, the matte display minimized distracting reflections, and the ink paper mode made reading comfortable.

— Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 27 Sep. 2026
Some belongings are too personal, while others require an extra layer of protection Realtors can’t provide, and a few seemingly harmless items can distract buyers from your home entirely.

— Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of distract

Verb

While the ceasefire halted the heaviest fighting and humanitarian conditions have improved, the Israeli military has expanded its control of Gaza and now occupies some 60% of the territory.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026
American Supercritical says its system occupies about one-tenth the space of a steam system.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of occupy

Browse Nearby Words

preoccupies

preoccupy

preoccupying

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“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of preoccupy

verb

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