preoccupy

verb

pre·​oc·​cu·​py (ˌ)prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpī 

preoccupied; preoccupying; preoccupies

transitive verb

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

As for now, Stan is preoccupied navigating the ongoing awards season, following the buzzy release of his two latest movies, A Different Man and The Apprentice. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 18 Jan. 2025

China’s fragilities also should preoccupy Trump World. —William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025

He is preoccupied with the U.S. trade deficit with Canada, erroneously calling it a subsidy. —Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025

Overburdened healthcare workers are preoccupied with routine administrative duties that detract from direct patient care. —Waqaas Al-Siddiq, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin praeoccupare, literally, to seize in advance, from prae- + occupare to seize, occupy

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids 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

(ˌ)prē-ˌäk-yə-ˈpā-shən

noun