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Definition of preoccupied

preoccupied

/pɹiːˈɑːkjəpaɪd/
pre · oc · cu · pied
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preoccupied Lexical Profile

preoccupied Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

So engrossed or absorbed in one's own thoughts or a particular matter that one is distracted or inattentive to immediate surroundings.

Example

"He seemed preoccupied during the meeting because he was worrying about the upcoming financial audit."

2

Already taken, inhabited, or in use beforehand.

Example

"The birds searched for a new nesting site after discovering that their former hollow was already preoccupied."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for preoccupied

• Nearby Words

prenup
prenuptial
preoccupation
preoccupied
preoccupy
preop
preopening

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the past participle of the verb preoccupy, from Middle French preoccuper and Latin praeoccupare, meaning 'to seize beforehand'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Preoccupied. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/preoccupied
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