preoccupy
verb
pre·oc·cu·py
(ˌ)prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpī 
preoccupied; preoccupying; preoccupies
1
: to engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or preferentially
2
: to take possession of or fill beforehand or before another
Examples of preoccupy in a Sentence
The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.
Recent Examples on the Web
The debates currently tend to be preoccupied with the loss of white-collar jobs due to the attainment of AGI.
—
Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
So would the gratitude that comes to preoccupy Serk.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 3 June 2025
Stage eight was an opportunity for the breakaway, sandwiched between two days set to preoccupy the GC contenders, and Plapp read the race conditions perfectly.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Jonathan Tucker’s Tim Weiner is one of the crew preoccupied with the Lisbons.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
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Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
So would the gratitude that comes to preoccupy Serk.
—Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 3 June 2025
Stage eight was an opportunity for the breakaway, sandwiched between two days set to preoccupy the GC contenders, and Plapp read the race conditions perfectly.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Jonathan Tucker’s Tim Weiner is one of the crew preoccupied with the Lisbons.
—Sezin Devi Koehler, EW.com, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preoccupy. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preoccupy
verb
pre·oc·cu·py
(ˈ)prē-ˈäk-yə-ˌpī
1
: to hold the attention of beforehand
2
: to take possession of before another
preoccupation
noun
(ˌ)prē-ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shən
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