occupy
to take or fill up (space, time, etc.): I occupied my evenings reading novels.
to engage or employ the mind, energy, or attention of: Occupy the children with a game while I prepare dinner.
to be a resident or tenant of; dwell in: We occupied the same house for 20 years.
to hold (a position, office, etc.).
to take possession and control of (a place), as by military invasion.
Usually Occupy . to participate in a protest about (a social or political issue), as by taking possession or control of buildings or public places that are symbolic of the issue: Let’s Occupy our voting rights!The Occupy Wall Street movement of late 2011 was a protest against economic inequality.
to take or hold possession.
Usually Occupy . to participate in a protest about a social or political issue.
Usually Occupy . of or relating to a protest about a social or political issue, as in Occupy movement,Occupy protest, and Occupy candidate:the Occupy movement for social justice.
Origin of occupy
1synonym study For occupy
Other words for occupy
Other words from occupy
- oc·cu·pi·a·ble, adjective
- oc·cu·pi·er, noun
- mis·oc·cu·py, verb, mis·oc·cu·pied, mis·oc·cu·py·ing.
- re·oc·cu·py, verb (used with object), re·oc·cu·pied, re·oc·cu·py·ing.
Words Nearby occupy
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use occupy in a sentence
It occupies a singular place in American political discourse.
New York Times bails on intent-neutral standard when discussing epithets | Erik Wemple | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostIt occupies 140 acres of woodland and open pasture stretching across a hill that rises behind the museum.
Sculpture parks are a great way to see art during a pandemic. Here’s why some are better than others. | Sebastian Smee | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostPristine Donnell Pond, which covers 1,138 acres and has 15 miles of shoreline, can easily occupy paddlers for the better part of day.
The Ultimate Acadia National Park Travel Guide | Virginia M. Wright | February 8, 2021 | Outside OnlineSo I am vigilant and solitary, my guest room occupied by 30-pound boxes of nuts.
How a sickly squirrel offered me unexpected comfort | Pam Spritzer | February 8, 2021 | Washington PostWhile most hosts will continue to work from home, producers for both stations now occupy the same office space near Nationals Park.
Brian Mitchell and JP Finlay will co-host show as part of new lineups at 106.7 the Fan, Team 980 | Scott Allen | February 4, 2021 | Washington Post
Satirists occupy a perilous position—to skewer dogma and cant, and to antagonize the establishment while needing its protection.
The opposition responded with a month-long occupy Abay (like occupy Wall St) campaign, in which Udaltsov was one of key figures.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015 | Movements.Org | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThat tweet came from Shay Horse, whose bio lists him as an independent photojournalist with ties to occupy Wall Street.
But the questions occupy my mind until the ambulance arrives.
Personally, he says, he feels "more than ready" to occupy one the country's leading positions.
Ukraine’s Elections: The Battle of the Billionaires | Anna Nemtsova | October 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWith twelve hundred foes around us, we had plenty to occupy all our thoughts and attention.
Nothing will be easier then to throw the Poles into the shade of the picture, or to occupy the foreground with a brilliant review.
I didn't like to be done; the man urged me to occupy one place that was yet vacant; my evil genius prompted me to do so.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsThe situation may be altogether in favor of the employer or altogether in favor of the men, or may occupy a middle ground.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockThus four thousand Indians at most roam through, rather than occupy, these vast stretches of inland territory and sea-shore.
British Dictionary definitions for occupy
/ (ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ) /
to live or be established in (a house, flat, office, etc)
(often passive) to keep (a person) busy or engrossed; engage the attention of
(often passive) to take up (a certain amount of time or space)
to take and hold possession of, esp as a demonstration: students occupied the college buildings
to fill or hold (a position or rank)
Origin of occupy
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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