as in to fascinate
to be thought about or worried about by (someone) very often or constantly
The question of life after death has preoccupied many philosophers.
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Recent Examples of preoccupy
Americans have been largely preoccupied with the impact of Trump’s whipsaw tariffs on their own economy.
—
Ian Cooper, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
During the meeting, Musk appeared preoccupied with his collection of hats—cycling through a DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) cap, a Gulf of America hat, and ultimately stacking them atop one another.
—Dan Gooding
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Canadians heading to the polls were preoccupied both with the country’s relationship with its neighbor to the south and with the state of the economy at home.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Participants in the study experienced a 13-point drop in IQ when they were preoccupied with scarcity concerns.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Ian Cooper, Sun Sentinel, 5 May 2025
During the meeting, Musk appeared preoccupied with his collection of hats—cycling through a DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) cap, a Gulf of America hat, and ultimately stacking them atop one another.
—Dan Gooding
gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Canadians heading to the polls were preoccupied both with the country’s relationship with its neighbor to the south and with the state of the economy at home.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Participants in the study experienced a 13-point drop in IQ when they were preoccupied with scarcity concerns.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preoccupy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preoccupy
Verb
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Fahy is a lot of fun playing against recent type as a blue-collar woman who has zero interest in the glamorous, opulent world that so fascinates her sister.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
22 May 2025
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Written by Washington Post journalists Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong, the first-ever inside account of the Supreme Court fascinated her.—
Brian Hamilton,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Verb
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One name that could interest Golden State is guard Derrick White from the Boston Celtics.—
Matt Levine,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 May 2025
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Perhaps Trump's memo will surface more novel tactics that interest the administration.—
Ashley Belanger – May 20,
ArsTechnica,
20 May 2025
Verb
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The sun's outer atmosphere — the corona — has long intrigued scientists due to its extreme temperatures, violent eruptions and towering prominences — vast filaments of plasma extending out from the solar surface.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
29 May 2025
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And while that performance will certainly intrigue the Yankees, there could be a couple of obstacles in acquiring Eovaldi.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Growth must reinforce strategy, not distract from it.—
Ayo Adepoju,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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But when the pair get to a higher point in order to try to see where the Wolves are/where Tommy might be, Ellie is distracted by a nearby aquarium, which has a giant ferris wheel nearby.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
25 May 2025
Verb
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The Industrialist Facing the Barclays Center, The Industrialist occupies a four-story warehouse reimagined as an artist's sanctuary.—
Malik Peay,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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One notable holdover from the prior films is providing a thread of lesbian desire, though Megan’s unrequited pining for Lori occupies a more marginal place in the narrative this time around.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Preoccupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preoccupy. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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