occupy
[ ok-yuh-pahy ]
/ ˈɒk yəˌpaɪ /
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verb (used with object), oc·cu·pied, oc·cu·py·ing.
verb (used without object), oc·cu·pied, oc·cu·py·ing.
to take or hold possession.
(usually initial capital letter) to participate in a protest about a social or political issue.
adjective
(usually initial capital letter) of or relating to a protest about a social or political issue, as in Occupy movement; Occupy protest; Occupy candidate:the Occupy movement for social justice.
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Origin of occupy
1300–50; Middle English occupien<Middle French occuper<Latin occupāre to seize, take hold, take up, make one's own, equivalent to oc-oc- + -cup-, combining form of capere to take, seize + -āre infinitive suffix
synonym study for occupy
1, 3-5. See have.
OTHER WORDS FROM occupy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use occupy in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for occupy
occupy
/ (ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ) /
verb -pies, -pying or -pied (tr)
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 demonstrationstudents occupied the college buildings
to fill or hold (a position or rank)
Word Origin for occupy
C14: from Old French occuper, from Latin occupāre to seize hold of, from ob- (intensive) + capere to take
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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