preoccupation
Americannoun
-
the state of being preoccupied, esp mentally
-
something that holds the attention or preoccupies the mind
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of preoccupation
1530–40; < Latin praeoccupātiōn- (stem of praeoccupātiō ) a taking possession beforehand. See pre-, occupation
Explanation
Preoccupation is a state where you're absorbed in something. You may have a preoccupation with video games or Hello Kitty, for example, if you can't keep your mind off those things. We all have our preoccupations: ideas and things that we just can't stop thinking about. Just as an occupation means someone is living somewhere, a preoccupation is an idea that's moved in to our minds. One person's preoccupation might be making more money, while another person's preoccupation could be learning to ride a motorcycle. We can also say that someone who is engrossed or absorbed in something is in a state of preoccupation; they're preoccupied.
Vocabulary lists containing preoccupation
"There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury
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Tuesdays with Morrie
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And Then There Were None
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The preoccupation with sizes, in particular, was something many international fans remarked about when interviewed by the BBC about their reflections on visiting America.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
"People taking these drugs for obesity often describe a quieting of 'food noise,' the persistent preoccupation with food that drives overeating," Al-Aly said.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2026
So what’s the catalyst for his noteworthy preoccupation with masculinity and all these archetypal characters who embody its antiquated themes?
From Salon ● May 27, 2026
Hungarians’ preoccupation with inflation, health and household budgeting tracks with the norm in most European countries.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026
To live in a world where men do not love, where they cheat and are callous, is to sink into a preoccupation with death, and to see the futility of anything except virtue.
From "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin
Co-directors Lorenzo Ferro and Lucas Vignale find a timeless and strikingly solemn protagonist in Barria, whose perceptive eyes take in the world while concealing his preoccupations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026
An ally of the prime minister tells me for several months those have been No 10's preoccupations.
From BBC ● May 16, 2026
The preoccupations of a regional power are different to the much broader global challenges faced by the US.
From BBC ● Mar. 28, 2026
Instead, Mr. Oliver suggests, among other things, meditation and yoga, explaining how these Eastern practices can help up transcend our personal preoccupations and loosen the constraints of the ego’s self-obsession.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 3, 2026
It was rare for them to spend their free hours together but she rounded them up from their preoccupations.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
