preoccupation
3 synonyms for preoccupation, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Something that dominates a person's thoughts and attention, often to the exclusion of other things.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use preoccupation
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a preoccupation with
main preoccupation
Etymology
From Middle French préoccupation, from Latin praeoccupatio, built from pre- plus occupation.
Full origin of preoccupation →Frequently asked questions
What does “preoccupation” mean?
The word “preoccupation” means something that dominates a person's thoughts and attention, often to the exclusion of other things. In plain terms, something you keep thinking about, almost to the point of distraction.
How do you pronounce “preoccupation”?
“Preoccupation” is pronounced pree-ok-yuu-PAY-shuhn (/ˌpɹiɑkjʊˈpeɪʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “preoccupation” in a sentence?
Here is “preoccupation” used in a sentence: “His main preoccupation these days is finishing the novel.”
What is another word for “preoccupation”?
Words with a similar meaning to “preoccupation” include preoccupancy.
What part of speech is “preoccupation”?
“Preoccupation” is a noun.
Where does the word “preoccupation” come from?
The word “preoccupation” comes from Latin. From Middle French préoccupation, from Latin praeoccupatio, built from pre- plus occupation.
