preoccupation

noun

pre·​oc·​cu·​pa·​tion (ˌ)prē-ˌä-kyə-ˈpā-shən How to pronounce preoccupation (audio)
1
: an act of preoccupying : the state of being preoccupied
2
a
: extreme or excessive concern with something
b
: something that preoccupies one

Examples of preoccupation in a Sentence

We need to better understand the problems and preoccupations of our clients. the future entomologist's preoccupation with insects from a very early age
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In the plural and the choral, Wildcat Dome finds the appropriate form for its preoccupation with collective guilt, the sort that cannot be contained by a single being. Katie Kitamura, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025 This emphasis on women’s bodies and behaviors is especially conspicuous amid a broader cultural preoccupation with male virility. Lucy Tu, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025 On the Severance official podcast, there are a lot of references to Ben’s preoccupation with hair. Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2025 Check this out 🏡 ‘Walk the House’: Contemporary artist Do Ho Suh’s childhood home in Seoul fueled his preoccupation with home as both a physical space and a psychological construct. Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for preoccupation

Word History

First Known Use

1572, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of preoccupation was in 1572

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Cite this Entry

“Preoccupation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preoccupation. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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