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
In the seconds before the shooting, the officer in the black beanie is turned away from Pretti, preoccupied with another protester.
—
Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
His obituaries were preoccupied with the fact that some of his works were very long.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
When boomers were growing up, society was preoccupied with food security and having a roof over their heads, says Amy DeBlase, LMHC, LPC, PMH-C, clinical director and supervisor at Let's Talk Psychological Wellness.
—Holly Garcia, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
Squire isn’t preoccupied by the attack against trans people.
—Emily Brindley, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
His obituaries were preoccupied with the fact that some of his works were very long.
—Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
When boomers were growing up, society was preoccupied with food security and having a roof over their heads, says Amy DeBlase, LMHC, LPC, PMH-C, clinical director and supervisor at Let's Talk Psychological Wellness.
—Holly Garcia, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
Squire isn’t preoccupied by the attack against trans people.
—Emily Brindley, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
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This is Taymor’s first production to embark on a national tour, and she’s been fascinated by the range of audience responses.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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From legal aspirations to a life of art As a girl, I was fascinated by color, texture and creative expressions.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These are the problems that most interest the complexity theorist Henry Yuen.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
17 Feb. 2026
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Also consider local hiking groups, fitness classes, or dance classes—and don't be afraid to try a few different things to find what most interests you.—
Jamie Cuccinelli,
Martha Stewart,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Epibatidine intrigued researchers for decades and was once highly sought after as a potential analgesic many times more powerful than morphine.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
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Hopefully, there’s a spot that intrigues you.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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They were seen by the clergy, for example, to be distracted by chocolate, drinking it and gossiping instead of paying attention to mass.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
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State transportation officials argued that street art is distracting and can pose a risk to drivers.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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One of China’s most influential cultural figures, Wang is not simply a celebrity endorsement but occupies a rare position at the intersection of youth identity, entertainment, and fashion authority.—
Yiling Pan,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
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They're arranged in haphazard rows, with Andrew Jackson occupying a prime front spot simply because the owner likes his hair.—
Danielle Paquette The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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