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
For now, Russia, preoccupied with its war in Ukraine, has very few troops along the frontier, and the Finns insist that none of this is much of a threat — yet.
—
Johanna Lemola, New York Times, 19 May 2025
So moths symbolize death, and Ellie’s preoccupied with finding her life’s purpose.
—EW.com, 19 May 2025
The man grunts, preoccupied with the survival of his business.
—Hazlitt, 13 May 2025
Siblings can often feel invisible because parents are preoccupied by their grief.
—Friends Of Karen, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
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Johanna Lemola, New York Times, 19 May 2025
So moths symbolize death, and Ellie’s preoccupied with finding her life’s purpose.
—EW.com, 19 May 2025
The man grunts, preoccupied with the survival of his business.
—Hazlitt, 13 May 2025
Siblings can often feel invisible because parents are preoccupied by their grief.
—Friends Of Karen, Forbes.com, 1 May 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 1 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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