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 The book is preoccupied with the lines that typically divide Americans—racial, economic, geographic—and the opportunities and tensions that arise when those lines begin to fade. Lucas Schaefer june 13, Literary Hub, 13 June 2025 Some of these folks behind may be preoccupied with their weather apps and such, not looking at the road. Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025 With Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis, the Wales family were preoccupied in giving their energy towards recovery. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 5 June 2025 Gemma has been preoccupied with her efforts to publicly atone for creating a murderous AI doll, and so Cady has had to get crafty in order to explore her budding interest in coding. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
  • These elephants fascinate zoologists for their ability to handle the harsh weather conditions in the area, including strong, ice-cold winds and alternating droughts and heavy rains.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Highball fascinates with its cozy, yet brooding ambience and complex, clean cocktails.
    Bahar Anooshahr, AZCentral.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Menu One user posted a photo of the menu, which interested several Redditors.
    Thomas Westerholm, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 July 2025
  • Browse our entire portfolio of newsletter offerings to pick more topics that interest you specifically.
    Eric Larsen, IndyStar, 17 July 2025
Verb
  • Above all, however, Colton Grant shares that her trajectory - from a curious college student intrigued by currency shifts, to a leader at the forefront of finance’s biggest transformation - boils down to one undeniable truth: success and smart investing hinges on trust.
    Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • When Lee Do starts getting in Moon Baek’s way, the criminal mastermind becomes intrigued by the stalwart cop.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • The legal fight threatens to distract from the group's goals in a state where Democrats already struggle to adequately field and fund candidates.
    Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 14 July 2025
  • This all, of course, was not to distract from the center of her makeup look: a matte red lip.
    Essence, Essence, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Though the seat had been occupied by Republicans for 50 years, Mary eked ahead of former Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and GOP businessman Nick Begich III to flip the House seat blue and become the first-ever Alaska Native elected to Congress.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 23 July 2025
  • The reality is only slightly more mundane: It was previously occupied by the manager of a pop superstar and a DJ/producer who recently closed a mid-eight-figure deal for his music catalog and label.
    Todd Longwell, Variety, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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