preoccupied

[ pree-ok-yuh-pahyd ]
See synonyms for preoccupied on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. completely engrossed in thought; absorbed.

  2. previously occupied; taken; filled.

  1. Biology. already used as a name for some species, genus, etc., and not available as a designation for any other.

Origin of preoccupied

1
First recorded in 1835–45; preoccupy + -ed2

Other words for preoccupied

Other words from preoccupied

  • pre·oc·cu·pied·ly, adverb
  • pre·oc·cu·pied·ness, noun
  • un·pre·oc·cu·pied, adjective

Words Nearby preoccupied

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use preoccupied in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for preoccupied

preoccupied

/ (priːˈɒkjʊˌpaɪd) /


adjective
  1. engrossed or absorbed in something, esp one's own thoughts

  2. already or previously occupied

  1. biology (of a taxonomic name) already used to designate a genus, species, etc

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