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
At a time when the bloc should be united, given a raft of external pressures, nations are preoccupied with domestic issues.
—
Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2025
Trotter’s impact on Bottega Veneta remains to be see in this regard, but her ability to create desire is essential in an environment with such high price points and where people are preoccupied with more than clothes.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Rather than preoccupy yourself with what people from your old hometown might say, live in the here and now.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
With the right side of the Eagles’ line preoccupied with outside linebacker Jared Verse, McCollough came unblocked and was able to build speed like only a safety coming downhill can generate.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2025
Trotter’s impact on Bottega Veneta remains to be see in this regard, but her ability to create desire is essential in an environment with such high price points and where people are preoccupied with more than clothes.
—Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Rather than preoccupy yourself with what people from your old hometown might say, live in the here and now.
—Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 27 Sep. 2025
With the right side of the Eagles’ line preoccupied with outside linebacker Jared Verse, McCollough came unblocked and was able to build speed like only a safety coming downhill can generate.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
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Throughout that time, Frédéric Boucheron was fascinated by the natural world — a passion Poulit‑Duquesne and Choisne continue today, visible in collections featuring feather motifs, fluid forms and other designs.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
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It’s set in the early 80s, which is a period that fascinates me.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This is a question that interests Maggie Perkins, a corporate trainer at the company who travels the country to instruct employees in its ways.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
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With a limited production of only 200 pairs, each boot features a unique production number sure to interest Harley fans.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The results, at the crossroads between fashion and art, intrigued Murakami.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
21 Oct. 2025
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Throughout the development of three seasons of Interview With the Vampire and two seasons of Mayfair Witches, Johnson became intrigued about the organization that kept popping up at pivotal moments in the story yet was never fully explored in Rice's books.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While some critics are skeptical of the claims amid a lack of publicly available evidence – suggesting instead that they are meant to distract from growing public discontent and protests against Noboa’s government – the president insisted to CNN the threat was real.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
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What Wednesday evening’s triumph also does is quieten the distracting outside noise that such a newsworthy club invariably attracts.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Nothing can be done, at this point, about the dubious premise that mainstream Jews and gentiles in 2020s Los Angeles occupy separate social worlds.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
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Finding effective ways to tackle post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in veterans, especially those who’ve seen combat, is a worthy cause that has occupied the minds of many researchers over the years.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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