preoccupation

[ pree-ok-yuh-pey-shuhn, pree-ok- ]

noun

1. the state of being preoccupied. preoccupy.
2. an act of preoccupying.

preoccupation

/ priːˈɒkjʊpənsɪ; priːˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən /

noun

1. the state of being preoccupied, esp mentally
2. something that holds the attention or preoccupies the mind

Other Words From

• over·pre·occu·pation noun
• self-pre·occu·pation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of preoccupation¹

1530–40; < Latin praeoccupātiōn- (stem of praeoccupātiō ) a taking possession beforehand. See pre-, occupation

Example Sentences

Lee’s tenure at Princeton for many years has no doubt provided him with much material about the preoccupations of a young person in a New Jersey college town.

From Washington Post

The showdown between Bill Clinton and Bob Dole on the campus of the University of San Diego is a time capsule into a previous generation’s preoccupations.

From Voice of San Diego

Finding the right definition for an object, at the right level of generality, is a major preoccupation of the mathematicians building mathlib.

From Quanta Magazine

Concerns over food — and its absence — have long been a preoccupation of China’s rulers.

From Ozy

In fact, a preoccupation with death and particularly skulls emerges across the region at this time and in the centuries following, with human remains commonly buried inside people’s houses.

From Nautilus

Now, Nelly is not famous for his political activism or preoccupation with African-American issues.

From The Daily Beast

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates observed a preoccupation with exit over strategy.

From The Daily Beast

Everyone is aware of the Asian cultural preoccupation with saving face.

From The Daily Beast

This was an unprecedentedly practical attempt to hasten on the Last Days, that recurrent Protestant preoccupation.

From The Daily Beast

Testing preoccupation has led to the arts, PE, history, and even sciences being downgraded—and replaced by test prep.

From The Daily Beast

His secret thoughts he buried beneath a continuous mental preoccupation with the vain and the trivial.

From Project Gutenberg

In many passage this preoccupation with aroma appears, surrounding with a subtle cloud all persons and things.

From Project Gutenberg

The fate of Vakoula the Smith was Tchaikovskys chief preoccupation at this time.

From Project Gutenberg

I merely noticed a growing preoccupation in her manner and in her attitude towards me, which changed perceptibly.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Garden's chief preoccupation was that the new house should have water upstairs and a cupboard at every turn.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• fixation
• obsession