Preoccupy (preoccupied) (original) (raw)
Irregular inflected form: preoccupied 
I. (verb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively
Example:
The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else
Classified under:
Hypernyms (to "preoccupy" is one way to...):
command; control (exercise authoritative control or power over)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "preoccupy"):
ghost; haunt; obsess (haunt like a ghost; pursue)
prepossess (cause to be preoccupied)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s somebody
Derivation:
preoccupancy; preoccupation (the mental state of being preoccupied by something)
preoccupation (an idea that preoccupies the mind and holds the attention)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance
Example:
the army preoccupied the hills
Classified under:
Verbs of buying, selling, owning
Hypernyms (to "preoccupy" is one way to...):
arrogate; assume; seize; take over; usurp (seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Derivation:
preoccupation (the act of taking occupancy before someone else does)