occupy
verb (used with object)
to take or fill up (space, time, etc.).
was occupying
-
past progressiveof occupy.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
Matheus Cunha was given the job instead, but he repeatedly dropped deep, right into the space Fernandes was occupying, and the pair never really found an effective way of dealing with it.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
No one was occupying cabin 10, Lo is told.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2025
The very genre she was occupying told the story of a region that, like Selena herself, had been shaped by multiple cultures.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2025
My wife didn’t need to ask what anguish was occupying my mind.
From Slate ● Feb. 4, 2025
Neither of the other two men was hungry, and the meal was soon eaten, but not till they were sipping their coffee did M. Bouc mention the subject that was occupying all their minds.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
