occupied

[ok-yuh-pahyd]

adjective

1. lived in.

   Now that he is no longer a member of the legislature, he and his family must move out of the occupied premises within 30 days.

2. (of space, time, etc.) taken or filled up.

   Have you ever walked into a public restroom and mistakenly opened an occupied stall?

3. taken possession of and controlled by a hostile military force.

   After Germany invaded in 1914, the Belgian Commission for Relief ensured that Belgians living in the occupied region did not starve.

4. employed or engaged, as one’s attention, energy, etc.; busy.

   He is often bored at home, not receiving much attention or affection from his occupied parents.

5. (of a position, office, etc.) held.

   The amount of the salary markup for working under extraordinary conditions depends on the occupied position.

6. Sometimes Occupied (of a place) taken possession of and controlled by demonstrators who see it as symbolic of a social or political issue.

   People stopped outside the occupied library to show their support for those inside, who were protesting cuts to public services.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of occupy.

Other Word Forms

• overoccupied adjective
• self-occupied adjective
• underoccupied adjective
• well-occupied adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of occupied¹

occupy ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Workers at General Motors occupied factories for 44 days in Flint, controlling irreplaceable auto body dies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The corner lot on which the club stands is now surrounded by hundreds of dilapidated and abandoned buildings occupied by squatters.

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He has said he is open to holding new elections if there is a way of ensuring any vote can be free and fair, including in regions partially occupied by Russia.

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It’s a world occupied by normal people who sometimes need a little help, a little push to get the things they want in life.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A movement to build a football stadium on the spot now occupied by Drake Stadium died in 1965 amid opposition from students, political leaders and local homeowners.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• engaged 
• peopled www.thesaurus.com
• populated www.thesaurus.com
• settled