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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
The goal would be twofold: to reacquaint voters — who might be preoccupied with newer releases — with March’s Cowboy Carter and to highlight the album’s country chops after it was controversially snubbed by the Country Music Awards.
—
Mike Wass, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2024
While Carter was preoccupied with guiding the Egyptian-Israeli talks to completion and negotiating a strategic nuclear arms deal with the Soviets, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran, America’s closest partner in the Middle East, faced a revolution at home, beginning in November 1978.
—Benjamin V. Allison / Made By History, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Currently, both Chinese leaders and Trump’s team are preoccupied by domestic matters more than foreign ones.
—Yan Xuetong, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024
And there is perhaps nothing that preoccupies their imaginations more than the logistics of a visit from Santa.
—Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preoccupy 
Mike Wass, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Dec. 2024
While Carter was preoccupied with guiding the Egyptian-Israeli talks to completion and negotiating a strategic nuclear arms deal with the Soviets, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi of Iran, America’s closest partner in the Middle East, faced a revolution at home, beginning in November 1978.
—Benjamin V. Allison / Made By History, TIME, 29 Dec. 2024
Currently, both Chinese leaders and Trump’s team are preoccupied by domestic matters more than foreign ones.
—Yan Xuetong, Foreign Affairs, 20 Dec. 2024
And there is perhaps nothing that preoccupies their imaginations more than the logistics of a visit from Santa.
—Françoise Mouly, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
-
Tissot was particularly fascinated by the mores and materialism of high society.—
Brigit Katz,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Jan. 2025
-
She was fascinated by it because there was stuff from her mother — my daughter.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Cotton said a president needs to keep qualified individuals interested in serving the White House and that may sometimes require enhanced security for officials.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
arkansasonline.com,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Now Inkle’s library generates enough money to allow Ingold to make only the games that interest him.—
Samuel Horti,
New York Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
What to Know Bennu, a carbon-rich asteroid formed as part of a parent body approximately 4.5 billion years ago, has long intrigued researchers due to its potential to harbor traces of water and organic molecules.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
-
This is reason enough to see this film or at least to be intrigued by it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The scene grows more and more chaotic: Simons is easily distracted by pieces of the set and cannot seem to follow his director’s cues.—
Luke Chinman,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
-
Don’t bring up sensitive topics when stressed, distracted, in a rush…or bed.—
Dominique Fluker,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
By then, anti-vaccination protesters had occupied the grounds outside Parliament, and Ardern and her family were threatened with violence.—
Caryn James,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
-
San Diego Wave has completed the signing of France midfielder Kenza Dali from Aston Villa. Dali, 33, has joined the club on a two-year deal through to 2027 and will occupy an international slot on the Wave’s roster in 2025.—
Ali Rampling,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near preoccupy
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share