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Definition of Preoccupy
1. Verb. Engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively. "The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else"
Generic synonyms: Command, Control
Derivative terms: Preoccupancy, Preoccupation, Preoccupation
2. Verb. Occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance. "The army preoccupied the hills"
Definition of Preoccupy
1. v. t. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held.
Definition of Preoccupy
1. Verb. To distract; to occupy or draw attention elsewhere. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Preoccupy
1. [v -PIED, -PYING, -PIES]
Lexicographical Neighbors of Preoccupy
Literary usage of Preoccupy
Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:
1. The History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, Henry Dale, Thomas Arnold (1849)
"... the rest advanced at a run against the flying Macedonians, cutting down such
as they fell in with; and got in time to preoccupy the narrow pass which ..."
2. A Compendious Anglo-Saxon and English Dictionary by Joseph Bosworth (1865)
"... on ; p. ode ; pp. od To occupy, preoccupy,prepossess. — bys- gung, e ; /'.
Necessary business, employment. ..."
3. The Character of the Gentleman by Francis Lieber (1864)
"... object almost with every one to preoccupy so successful or so dangerous an
advocate; for, if he failed in inducing a jury to sympathize with his client, ..."
4. An Historical Disquisition Concerning the Knowledge which the Ancients Had by William Robertson (1835)
"... crowds of people hurried towards Scotland, eager to preoccupy the favour of
the successor, or afraid of being too late in paying homage to him. • Birch. ..."
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