OCCUPY Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

occupy

verb

ˈä-kyə-ˌpī

Definition of occupy

as in to interest

to hold the attention of a puzzle will occupy that child for hours

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 occupy The Harford County Humane Society is pleading for help after an influx of dogs in October left the shelter at full capacity, with all 67 kennels occupied. — Ashley Paul, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Clever architecture means that the hotel’s true scale—and make no mistake, this is a bells-and-whistles resort with enough diversions to keep guests occupied for weeks—is hidden until the final moment. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Oct. 2026 On Monday, at least three people were killed in Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite after gunmen with the Kokorat San Ras gang stormed the city center and occupied several strategic positions. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 Russia occupied Izyum, where Fox said her brother settled, for six months in 2022, but Ukraine later recaptured it in a major counteroffensive. — Garrett Haake, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for occupy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupy

Verb

What interests me most is the idea of giving young people an ownership stake in a company helping shape the future of space exploration.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Which is perhaps why the inclusion of Atari BASIC interests me more than another collection of retro games.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of interest

Verb

Hamilton said he was not involved in his church’s investigation of Moore and the church’s decision to let Moore return to the camp in 2006, a year after the initial allegations.

— Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
Taiwanese regulators blocked a previous deal involving Foodpanda.

— Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of involve

Verb

Still, there were a number of real-life court cases that intrigued him as a storyteller with a journalism background.

— Tomris Laffly, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
Played by Steve Earle, Dale offers Lee a sandwich, but Lee is more intrigued by a novelty mug in the cab of his truck.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of intrigue

Verb

Beigel, who previously worked with FBI officers while helming the ESPN 30for30 documentary The Counterfeiter, spent approximately three years immersing himself in the Loofe case.

— Samantha Bergeson, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
Doherty, reconnecting with Scotland during visits to see his mother, immersed himself in gritty British cinema by filmmakers Shane Meadows and Ken Loach, as well as music by Massive Attack, Siouxsie and the Banshees and PJ Harvey.

— SPIN Staff, SPIN, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of immerse

Verb

That’s certainly how Republicans busied themselves in the last two years of the Biden administration, when Hunter Biden got more airtime than pharmaceutical ads.

— Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2026
After busying ourselves with fly fishing on the Snake River, rafting, horseback riding and touring Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, there hasn’t been much time for reflection.

— Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of busy

Verb

Amid all the con artists and fraudsters this century has produced, Holmes is the one who fascinates us the most.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
He’s always been obsessed with historic epochs like the Civil War and World War II and fascinated with the post-war boom and the sojourns of Route 66.

— Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

Designed to travel beyond Mach 5, the weapon aims to help American forces engage targets quickly from long distances.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026
The four countries agreed to continue to engage to advance regional peace and security, according to Iranian state media.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of engage

Browse Nearby Words

occupies

occupy

occupying

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Style

“Occupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupy. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of occupy

verb

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