preoccupy

UK: /priˈɒkjʊpaɪ/ US: /priˈɑkjəˌpaɪ/ ,(prē ok′yə pī′)

Inflections of 'preoccupy' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

preoccupies

v 3rd person singular

preoccupying

v pres p

preoccupied

v past

preoccupied

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•oc•cu•py /priˈɑkyəˌpaɪ/   v. [~ + object] , -pied, -py•ing. 

1. to take the attention of (someone) so that one ignores other things:
   Her fears about her parents' health preoccupied her.

pre•oc•cu•pied, adj.: 

I was too preoccupied with my work to notice the time.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•oc•cu•py  (prē ok′yə pī′), v.t., -pied, -py•ing. 

1. to absorb or engross to the exclusion of other things.
2. to occupy beforehand or before others.

• pre- + occupy 1560–70

pre•oc′cu•pi′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

preoccupy / priːˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ/ verb ( -pies, -pying, -pied)(transitive)

1. to engross the thoughts or mind of
2. to occupy before or in advance of another

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin praeoccupāre to capture in advance, from prae before + occupāre to seize, take possession of