Library / English Dictionary

PREOCCUPY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected form: preoccupied   

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively

Example:

The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "preoccupy" is one way to...):

command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "preoccupy"):

ghost; haunt; obsess (haunt like a ghost; pursue)

prepossess (cause to be preoccupied)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

preoccupancy; preoccupation (the mental state of being preoccupied by something)

preoccupation (an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance

Example:

the army preoccupied the hills

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Hypernyms (to "preoccupy" is one way to...):

arrogate; assume; seize; take over; usurp (seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

preoccupation (the act of taking occupancy before someone else does)

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