preoccupation

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

noun

1. the state of being preoccupied. preoccupy.

2. an act of preoccupying.

preoccupation

/ priːˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən, priːˈɒkjʊpənsɪ /

noun

1. the state of being preoccupied, esp mentally

2. something that holds the attention or preoccupies the mind

Other Word Forms

• overpreoccupation noun
• self-preoccupation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of preoccupation¹

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

Example Sentences

Bold talk of spreading democracy—more Mr. Bush’s preoccupation than Cheney’s—didn’t survive the second term.

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That requires limiting compulsive information seeking and disrupting the social feedback loops that sustain the preoccupation, rather than merely reducing anxiety.

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It was one of 10 words on a shortlist to reflect the mood, language and preoccupations of 2025.

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Not long ago climate was a bipartisan preoccupation for Mr. Starmer’s Labour Party and the Conservatives; a Tory government introduced a legally binding net-zero target.

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Wall Street’s preoccupation with colossal companies shows up in how the indexes perform, too, Colas noted.

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Related Words

• fixation 
• obsession