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
All these same issues that preoccupy America today were also preoccupying it back then.
—
Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Assign a dedicated water watcher who is not preoccupied by a phone or conversation.
—Anna Nguyen, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Didion was concerned about Quintana and her struggles with depression and alcoholism, but she was preoccupied, too, with aging, with creative fulfillment, with the complex dynamics of their family.
—Joan Didion, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Although the account sometimes shares actual news, it’s frequently preoccupied by rapid-response engagement bait for MAGA diehards.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
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Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Assign a dedicated water watcher who is not preoccupied by a phone or conversation.
—Anna Nguyen, Sun Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2025
Didion was concerned about Quintana and her struggles with depression and alcoholism, but she was preoccupied, too, with aging, with creative fulfillment, with the complex dynamics of their family.
—Joan Didion, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
Although the account sometimes shares actual news, it’s frequently preoccupied by rapid-response engagement bait for MAGA diehards.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 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 22 Apr. 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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