preoccupy

as in to fascinate
to be thought about or worried about by (someone) very often or constantly The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of preoccupy Local police forces around the country have long been preoccupied with enforcing state and local law because that’s their reason for existing and primary responsibility to local taxpayers. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 20 Mar. 2025 But with buddy Dino (Jacobson) helping, he now is preoccupied in figuring out how to dispose of this newly dead body. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025 Additionally, black is often associated with negative energy and may not evoke unwanted feelings before bedtime, causing your mind to be preoccupied. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2025 If there were any real unknowns, complete or otherwise, on Sunday night, they could be found in the lead-acting categories, which, to a fascinating degree this season, have been preoccupied with considerations of age. Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
  • Football content creator Will Powell — better known by his social media pseudonym, Bryan’s Gunn — has always been fascinated by the linguistic quirks and tropes of football.
    James McNicholas, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Laura is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Encourage your student to reach out to local professors or professionals in fields that genuinely interest them, rather than focusing solely on prestigious summer programs with low acceptance rates.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • As always, there’s been chatter about the identity of the season’s inevitable casualty and the circumstances behind their death, which has never been a level on which White Lotus interested me.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The idea of playing with the high-flying freshman intrigues Hall.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
  • She had been intrigued by the competitiveness of the sport.
    Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Balancing Business and Academics One common concern for parents and educators is whether entrepreneurship might distract from academics.
    Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Don't be distracted by extra information (whether visual, computational, or otherwise).
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Unlike classical computing, which processes information through bits that can exist in either zeros or ones, quantum computing is an evolving field where quantum bits (or qubits) can occupy both zero and one in a single unit.
    Rachel Curry, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2025
  • A couple of Jacob's cowboys take position on the roof, Zane takes cover out front, Elizabeth arms herself with a shotgun inside, and Cara occupies a sniper perch with her husband's elk rifle.
    Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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