as in engaged
involved in often constant activity
the boy is constantly occupied, usually with sports or schoolwork
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interested
to hold the attention of
a puzzle will occupy that child for hours
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of occupied
City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Launched overnight on Thursday to Friday, the drone salvo — one of Ukraine's deadliest such strikes in months — also wounded 42 in Starobilsk, in the occupied Lugansk region, trapping people beneath the debris.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
Bigelow was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Last month, Aws al-Nasaan, 14, was gunned down in broad daylight in the small Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir, in the occupied West Bank.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Violence flared Saturday in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli troops shot and killed a 34-year-old Palestinian in the Jenin refugee camp, according to the Palestinian Health ministry.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
However, the calculation doesn't include those killed this year, nor all foreign fighters or Russian units' losses that were formed in the occupied Ukrainian territories.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Archaeology in the occupied West Bank is frequently politicized as part of broader territorial disputes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
Ministers sought to pressure both Hamas and settlers French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the ministers decided to sanction Hamas leaders and both leaders and organizations in the Israeli settler movement in the occupied West Bank.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Josh Robbins, New York Times, 28 May 2026
The bar, in space once occupied by Edible Arrangements at mid-block, will offer low-cost beer and drinks — in the tradition of a hip, dive bar — plus a limited menu of food.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
The congregation itself dates back to 1677 and was occupied by British forces during the war.
—Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Currently, about 175 of the 336 units are occupied, city officials estimated.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Russia has occupied about 20% of Ukraine so far.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Individual World Cup games are obviously at the heart of hosting the tournament, but Smith said that there will still be a lot of time to fill between matches on most days and that organizers wanted to make sure fans had plenty to keep them occupied.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 28 May 2026
At the same time, dinosaurs have started drifting into spaces traditionally occupied by contemporary art.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 May 2026
Perhaps it’s meant to suggest the weight of history or the state apparatuses crowding characters into the bottom of the frame, or space that’s occupied by unseen spirits (Goethe himself?
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Adjective
Kenneth McNally, 42, was found guilty of first-degree murder in the slaying of Samuel Holthaus, 59, along with two counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting at an inhabited occupied structure/vehicle and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.
—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2026
Launched overnight on Thursday to Friday, the drone salvo — one of Ukraine's deadliest such strikes in months — also wounded 42 in Starobilsk, in the occupied Lugansk region, trapping people beneath the debris.
—CBS News, 24 May 2026
Bigelow was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Last month, Aws al-Nasaan, 14, was gunned down in broad daylight in the small Palestinian village of Al-Mughayyir, in the occupied West Bank.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Violence flared Saturday in the occupied West Bank, where Israeli troops shot and killed a 34-year-old Palestinian in the Jenin refugee camp, according to the Palestinian Health ministry.
—Samy Magdy, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2026
However, the calculation doesn't include those killed this year, nor all foreign fighters or Russian units' losses that were formed in the occupied Ukrainian territories.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Archaeology in the occupied West Bank is frequently politicized as part of broader territorial disputes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers.
—Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
Ministers sought to pressure both Hamas and settlers French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the ministers decided to sanction Hamas leaders and both leaders and organizations in the Israeli settler movement in the occupied West Bank.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
If the Wizards are much more competitive in the season ahead, as expected, more lower-bowl seats should be occupied.
—Josh Robbins, New York Times, 28 May 2026
The bar, in space once occupied by Edible Arrangements at mid-block, will offer low-cost beer and drinks — in the tradition of a hip, dive bar — plus a limited menu of food.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 28 May 2026
The congregation itself dates back to 1677 and was occupied by British forces during the war.
—Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 28 May 2026
Currently, about 175 of the 336 units are occupied, city officials estimated.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Russia has occupied about 20% of Ukraine so far.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
Individual World Cup games are obviously at the heart of hosting the tournament, but Smith said that there will still be a lot of time to fill between matches on most days and that organizers wanted to make sure fans had plenty to keep them occupied.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 28 May 2026
At the same time, dinosaurs have started drifting into spaces traditionally occupied by contemporary art.
—Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 28 May 2026
Perhaps it’s meant to suggest the weight of history or the state apparatuses crowding characters into the bottom of the frame, or space that’s occupied by unseen spirits (Goethe himself?
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupied
Adjective
-
Through workshops, brain-health nutrition and other innovative tools such as exergaming — interactive technology that combines exercise with gaming — residents can explore new ways to stay engaged and nurture continued vitality.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
That underdeveloped online channel is likely why the David Bellinger of Mizuho said many of these newer digital customers appear less engaged with Costco’s traditional warehouse experience.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
To my surprise, that interested him—most men wouldn’t have wanted to hear about it.—
Joyce Johnson,
New Yorker,
23 May 2026
-
Around the same time, Barwick and his then-student, Peter Haine, independently came up with a slightly different definition in order to answer a particular question in category theory that interested them.—
Konstantin Kakaes,
Quanta Magazine,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
But he's benefited from his busy daily workload and a lifetime of abstinence from tobacco and alcohol, said his physician, Sean Barbabella.—
Zachary Schermele,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
-
That could have included a certain population size within three miles, a certain demographic target nearby, a maximum of 2,500 square feet on a single floor, located on a busy intersection, with a minimum number of locations per market, etc.—
George Deeb,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Some of the above selects can be immersed as deep as 100 meters without any harm done.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
-
Both Newman-Thomas and Audouy immersed themselves in period research for the Alamo prologue, which didn’t have a date or location specified in the script.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The setting is an unidentified town in Ohio in the early 1970s, a rec center that plays host to a weekly meeting of seven women, all walks of life, who are intrigued by this new talk of Women’s Liberation and consciousness-raising.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 May 2026
-
The way they’re being listened to, the way a judge might nod at them or laugh at them or look intrigued by them.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
There’s yet another reason to be diligent with your daily SPF.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
14 May 2026
-
In the end, after a monthslong investigation and diligent forensic work, partial remains of 70 of the 110 victims were identified and returned to family members who, to this day, carry the pain of that day in 1996.—
Hank Tester,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
The abuse, which police said involved a 14-year-old, happened between July and November 2024.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
-
Authorities said earlier that Baker was responsible for or involved in the deaths of three men — Robert Shine and John Carse, both 69, and a 79-year-old man who has not been identified.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
But he’s always been fascinated by this heroine’s story.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2026
-
The combined disgust, discomfort, ignorance, and fascination with our Indigeneity that unsettled my aunties and fascinated my cousins made more sense to me.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupied. Accessed 3 Jun. 2026.
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