preoccupied

adjective

pre·oc·cu·pied (ˌ)prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpīd How to pronounce preoccupied (audio)

: previously applied to another group and unavailable for use in a new sense

—used of a biological generic or specific name

: lost in thought

also : absorbed in some preoccupation

: already occupied

Example Sentences

too preoccupied with her worries to enjoy the meal

Recent Examples on the Web At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with schedules bare and more time at home, Americans became preoccupied with baking their own bread.

Brooklyn White, Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 The country was more preoccupied with controlling gas, oil, telecommunications, finance, and traditional media.

Wired, 20 July 2022 Why, then, is YouTube so preoccupied with lassoing every star that falls off the Twitch bandwagon?

Nathan Grayson, Washington Post, 15 July 2022 Market watchers have become preoccupied with figuring out which cohorts of investors are getting hurt the most during the current crypto winter.

Vildana Hajric, Fortune, 15 June 2022 Market watchers have become preoccupied with figuring out which cohorts of investors are getting hurt the most during the current crypto winter.

Vildana Hajric, BostonGlobe.com, 14 June 2022 Or even just totally preoccupied with a new job or local drama.

Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 13 June 2022 And emasculation had no place in Italian Futurism, the bizarre and nationalist art movement founded by Marinetti in 1909 on the belief that Italy could never gain primacy if its feeble men were so preoccupied with history and tradition.

Amanda Arnold, Bon Appétit, 23 June 2022 That's not the only parallel between the two princesses—like Diana, Sisi lived with a severe eating disorder, and was very preoccupied with maintaining her figure and beauty at all costs.

Emma Dibdin, Town & Country, 4 Aug. 2022 See More

preoccupied 1 of 2

adjective

as in distracted

lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions too preoccupied with her worries to enjoy the meal

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

distracted
confused
bewildered
absent
dazed
absentminded
abstracted
oblivious
absorbed
engrossed
forgetful
forgetting
unaware
daydreaming
pensive
dreaming
inattentive
intent
unmindful
unconscious
rapt
dreamy
befuddled
faraway
heedless
bemused
unperceptive
unfocused
muddled
clueless
scatterbrained
unheeding
unthinking
unwitting
unfocussed
vacant
hazy
unknowing
foggy
befogged
flighty
unwary
insensible
birdbrained

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

engaged
aware
conscious
alert
wary
attentive
mindful
vigilant
watchful
alive
observing
observant
heedful
sharp
clearheaded
wide-awake
open-eyed
heads-up

preoccupied

2 of 2

verb

past tense of preoccupy

as in interested

to be thought about or worried about by (someone) very often or constantly The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.

Synonyms & Similar Words

interested
distracted
intrigued
fascinated
occupied
engrossed
busied
obsessed
attracted
bemused
immersed
involved
enthralled
engaged
gripped
captivated
absorbed
charmed
caught up
bewitched
enwrapped
beguiled
enchanted
allured

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bored
tired
wearied
jaded
palled

Synonym Chooser

Some common synonyms of preoccupied are absentminded, absent, abstracted, and distracted. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others.

too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal

Although the words absent and preoccupied have much in common, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters.

an absent stare

The meanings of absentminded and preoccupied largely overlap; however, absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness.

so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes

The words abstracted and preoccupied can be used in similar contexts, but abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters.

walking about with an abstracted air

While in some cases nearly identical to preoccupied, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety.

was too distracted by grief to continue working

单词	preoccupied
释义	preoccupied adjective pre·oc·cu·pied (ˌ)prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpīd 1 : previously applied to another group and unavailable for use in a new sense —used of a biological generic or specific name 2 a : lost in thought also : absorbed in some preoccupation b : already occupied Synonyms absent absentminded abstracted distracted See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences too preoccupied with her worries to enjoy the meal Recent Examples on the Web At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with schedules bare and more time at home, Americans became preoccupied with baking their own bread. Brooklyn White, Essence, 8 Sep. 2022 The country was more preoccupied with controlling gas, oil, telecommunications, finance, and traditional media. Wired, 20 July 2022 Why, then, is YouTube so preoccupied with lassoing every star that falls off the Twitch bandwagon? Nathan Grayson, Washington Post, 15 July 2022 Market watchers have become preoccupied with figuring out which cohorts of investors are getting hurt the most during the current crypto winter. Vildana Hajric, Fortune, 15 June 2022 Market watchers have become preoccupied with figuring out which cohorts of investors are getting hurt the most during the current crypto winter. Vildana Hajric, BostonGlobe.com, 14 June 2022 Or even just totally preoccupied with a new job or local drama. Corey Buhay, Outside Online, 13 June 2022 And emasculation had no place in Italian Futurism, the bizarre and nationalist art movement founded by Marinetti in 1909 on the belief that Italy could never gain primacy if its feeble men were so preoccupied with history and tradition. Amanda Arnold, Bon Appétit, 23 June 2022 That's not the only parallel between the two princesses—like Diana, Sisi lived with a severe eating disorder, and was very preoccupied with maintaining her figure and beauty at all costs. Emma Dibdin, Town & Country, 4 Aug. 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Phrases Containing preoccupied self-preoccupied self-preoccupied Kids Definition preoccupied adjective pre·oc·cu·pied prē-ˈä-kyə-ˌpīd : thinking about or worrying about one thing a great deal The kittens played right in front of him, but the Emperor was too preoccupied to notice. Lloyd Alexander, Time Cat preoccupied 1 of 2 adjective as in distracted lost in thought and unaware of one's surroundings or actions too preoccupied with her worries to enjoy the meal Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance distracted confused bewildered absent dazed absentminded abstracted oblivious absorbed engrossed forgetful forgetting unaware daydreaming pensive dreaming inattentive intent unmindful unconscious rapt dreamy befuddled faraway heedless bemused unperceptive unfocused muddled clueless scatterbrained unheeding unthinking unwitting unfocussed vacant hazy unknowing foggy befogged flighty unwary insensible birdbrained Antonyms & Near Antonyms engaged aware conscious alert wary attentive mindful vigilant watchful alive observing observant heedful sharp clearheaded wide-awake open-eyed heads-up See More preoccupied 2 of 2 verb past tense of preoccupy as in interested to be thought about or worried about by (someone) very often or constantly The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers. Synonyms & Similar Words interested distracted intrigued fascinated occupied engrossed busied obsessed attracted bemused immersed involved enthralled engaged gripped captivated absorbed charmed caught up bewitched enwrapped beguiled enchanted allured Antonyms & Near Antonyms bored tired wearied jaded palled Synonym Chooser Some common synonyms of preoccupied are absentminded, absent, abstracted, and distracted. While all these words mean "inattentive to what claims or demands consideration," preoccupied often implies having one's attention so taken up by thoughts as to neglect others. too preoccupied with her debts to enjoy the meal Although the words absent and preoccupied have much in common, absent stresses inability to fix the mind on present concerns due more to mental wandering than to concentration on other matters. an absent stare The meanings of absentminded and preoccupied largely overlap; however, absentminded implies that the mind is fixed elsewhere and often refers to a habit of abstractedness. so absentminded, he's been known to wear mismatched shoes The words abstracted and preoccupied can be used in similar contexts, but abstracted implies absorption of the mind in something other than one's surroundings, and often suggests reflection on weighty matters. walking about with an abstracted air While in some cases nearly identical to preoccupied, distracted may suggest an inability to concentrate caused by worry, sorrow, or anxiety. was too distracted by grief to continue working
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preoccupied

adjective

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing preoccupied

Kids Definition

adjective

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser