Showing results for "preoccupied"

• past tense form of preoccupy.
• past participle of preoccupy.

preoccupied

American  

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

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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• preoccupiedness
  noun
• unpreoccupied
  adjective
• preoccupiedly
  adverb

---

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

See Examples For:

preoccupied

In a campaign swing through the Rio Grande Valley, a heavily Latino part of the state, Hinojosa worked to shore up support among Latino voters preoccupied with the state of public education.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026

Another earnings season is just around the corner, and more companies than usual have had upbeat expectations, while their executives are also a bit less preoccupied with inflation.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 13, 2026

The shift reflects the priorities of younger voters, who see the economy and the worsening security situation with China as bigger concerns than the battles over bases that preoccupied their parents and grandparents.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2026

Hilliard said Bush was motivated by "financial greed" and was "so preoccupied with his own enrichment" he allowed the site to descend into an "appalling" state.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026

Isn’t it awful of me to be so preoccupied with myself?

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---