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
That's really what preoccupied all of us during Band of Brothers and similarly with Pressure.
—
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
While Cody is preoccupied with playing with toy trucks in the dirt, JJ’s dad teaches him how all the different construction vehicles work.
—Parents, 29 May 2026
People are preoccupied with everyday work stress, day-to-day sadness, and the like.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
The Chinese leadership has put stabilizing the housing market on its agenda, but analysts say that the central government – preoccupied by pushing tech advances – is not interested in seeing the sector return to its former prominence as an economic driver.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 31 May 2026
While Cody is preoccupied with playing with toy trucks in the dirt, JJ’s dad teaches him how all the different construction vehicles work.
—Parents, 29 May 2026
People are preoccupied with everyday work stress, day-to-day sadness, and the like.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
The Chinese leadership has put stabilizing the housing market on its agenda, but analysts say that the central government – preoccupied by pushing tech advances – is not interested in seeing the sector return to its former prominence as an economic driver.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
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Because people's feelings, passions, and motivations have always fascinated me.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
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By the time Jackie arrived at Buckingham Palace for her first meeting with the Queen in June 1961 during her husband's presidency, she had long been fascinated by royalty.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
Verb
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That’s a cheap and easy analogy, but that’s what interested me to want to make this show.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
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What interested you in the character initially?—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
9 June 2026
Verb
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The possibility of pairing Donald with Garrett — a two-time defensive player of the year — continues to intrigue both in and out of the Rams’ facility.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
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Christian Kelly and Roseann McGinnis, of Oswego, were intrigued with strawberries paired with barbecue sauce at the market.—
Linda Girardi,
Chicago Tribune,
8 June 2026
Verb
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The campaign further advises that using phones to film or photograph events could create dangerous congestion and distract other passengers.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
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The three cats quickly get distracted, though, by the dangling, bright lightbulb and string hanging above them.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Verb
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About Acqualina Resort Conveniently located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Acqualina Resort occupies 5 oceanfront acres in Sunny Isles, a town known for its wide sandy beaches, luxury shopping, and international atmosphere.—
Katie Riley,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
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Many lead institutions that are more than a century old yet are the first women ever to occupy the top role.—
Sam Birchall,
Fortune,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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