preoccupied

American  

[pree-ok-yuh-pahyd] / priˈɒk yəˌpaɪd /

adjective

1. completely engrossed in thought; absorbed.

   Synonyms:

   busy

2. previously occupied; taken; filled.

3. Biology. already used as a name for some species, genus, etc., and not available as a designation for any other.

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preoccupied British  

/ priːˈɒkjʊˌpaɪd /

adjective

1. engrossed or absorbed in something, esp one's own thoughts

2. already or previously occupied

3. biology (of a taxonomic name) already used to designate a genus, species, etc

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Other Word Forms

• preoccupiedly
  adverb
• preoccupiedness
  noun
• unpreoccupied
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of preoccupied

First recorded in 1835–45; preoccupy + -ed ²

Explanation

When you're preoccupied, you're completely focused on whatever it is that you're doing. It's good to be preoccupied when you're driving, as long as you're preoccupied with the road and not with your cell phone. Have you ever been so preoccupied with another person that you couldn't hear or see anyone else when you were in the same room as them? Well, it sounds like you were in love! You can be preoccupied with a person, a place, or even a hobby, like collecting baseball cards or seashells. Preoccupied can also mean that you are wrapped up in your own thoughts, which is good if you find yourself to be the most amusing person in the world.

Example Sentences

But EV sales — despite being the cash engine fueling Tesla’s massive ambitions — have become less of a concern for investors, who are now preoccupied by Tesla’s robotaxi service.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

Since the 2000s the city's planners have been preoccupied with building more utilitarian infrastructure, with new sea bridges and coastal roads, radically transforming how the city looks today.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Nvidia’s customers are less concerned today with training large AI models—what GPUs are best at—and more preoccupied with running them and generating big profits from end-users.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

It’s worth noting that complaints against Live Nation were never solely preoccupied with Ticketmaster divestment.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

We’d apparently run out of hot water while I sat on the floor staring at that message, and I inhaled hard as icy water jolted me out of my preoccupied fog.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

Related Words

• absorbed
• bemused
• distracted
• engaged
• engrossed
• fascinated
• forgetful
• obsessed