occupy

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈɒkjʊpaɪ/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈɑkjəpaɪ/

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: oc‧cu‧py

Verb

Plain form occupy

Third-person singular occupies

Past tense occupied

Past participle occupied

Present participle occupying

1. (transitive) If something occupies a space, it is there, lives there, or belongs there.

   Her personal apartment has two bedrooms. In New York this is sometimes more space than entire families occupy.

   He owned a large area of land occupied mostly by shops.

   I couldn't sit down because this lady was occupying two seats.

2. (transitive) If a country or army occupies another country, it controls it.

   We have requested the removal of armed forces from territories occupied in the recent war.

   Today, American forces occupy Iraq and Afghanistan.

3. (transitive) If you occupy a position, you do a job, or have a job title.

   Women are seeking positions that were formerly occupied by men.

4. If your mind is occupied, you are thinking of something and can't concentrate on other things.

   I like to keep their minds occupied and keep them busy and out of trouble.

5. If something occupies you or your time, it keeps you busy.

   Before, I ate constantly; but now, I find other things to occupy my time.

Synonyms

• fill
• engage
• capture
• rule
• dominate

Related words

• occupancy
• occupant
• unoccupied
• occupier