preoccupy

Word parts

pre- + occupy

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /prɪˈɒkjupaɪ/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /priˈɑkjupaɪ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form preoccupy

Third-person singular preoccupies

Past tense preoccupied

Past participle preoccupied

Present participle preoccupying

1. (transitive) Preoccupy means a person or thing that causes someone to have constant or excessive thoughts about.

   I preoccupied my son with a toy while I finish the work I was doing.