PREOCCUPY Synonyms: 30 Similar and Opposite Words

preoccupy

verb

Definition of 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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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 But China’s leaders, facing their own domestic challenges and preoccupied with their own grip on power, may decide that imposing these innovations on the masses is simply too risky—for their own sake, if not for the sake of humanity. — Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026 While her father wanted her to get discovered, Dawson was preoccupied with a crush on one of the grips. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Sep. 2026 Or is he preoccupied with positioning himself to run for president in 2028? — Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026 For much of the following century, food photography functioned as a sort of ethnographic art, a form of restrained realism preoccupied with light and shadow, shape and symbolism. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for preoccupy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy

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

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

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

He had been courted by an investment group to helm a vast space on North Robertson Boulevard in West Hollywood, previously occupied by a Spanish-leaning restaurant called Soulmate.

— Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
In June, Israel launched a preëmptive strike against Egypt, setting off the Six-Day War, and proceeded to occupy the Sinai Peninsula, the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.

— Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of occupy

Browse Nearby Words

preoccupies

preoccupy

preoccupying

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

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Synonyms of preoccupy

verb

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