occupy
OK-yuu-peye
Occupy (verb) means to live in, use, or take up a space. Example: “Three large wardrobes occupy the whole of the spare bedroom.”
verb
1
To live in, use, or take up a space.
"Three large wardrobes occupy the whole of the spare bedroom."
"The family has occupied this house for three generations."
"The sofa occupies most of the living room."
2
To hold someone's attention or fill their time.
"A good puzzle will occupy the children for most of a rainy afternoon."
"Planning the wedding has occupied her thoughts for weeks."
"Work has occupied all of my evenings this week."
3
To take control of a place, especially by military force.
"In the old story, an invading army occupied the castle and held it for a year."
"The rebels occupied the radio station and refused to leave."
"Troops occupied the border town within days."
How to use occupy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take up space, time, or attention — or to take control of a place by force.
Common pairings
occupy a position
occupy space
occupy territory
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- occupies
- Past tense
- occupied
- Archaic forms
- occupiest, occupieth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Three large wardrobes _____ the whole of the spare bedroom.
Etymology
From Latin occupare, "to seize, take possession of", from ob- plus capere ("to take, seize") — the same root behind "capture".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “occupy” mean?
The word “occupy” means to live in, use, or take up a space. In plain terms, to take up space, time, or attention — or to take control of a place by force.
How do you pronounce “occupy”?
“Occupy” is pronounced OK-yuu-peye (/ˈɑkjəpaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “occupy” in a sentence?
Here is “occupy” used in a sentence: “The family has occupied this house for three generations.”
What is another word for “occupy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “occupy” include go to bed with and sleep with.
What part of speech is “occupy”?
“Occupy” is a verb.
Where does the word “occupy” come from?
The word “occupy” comes from Latin. From Latin occupare, "to seize, take possession of", from ob- plus capere ("to take, seize") — the same root behind "capture".
Is “occupy” a common word?
“Occupy” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “occupy” have?
“Occupy” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to live in, use, or take up a space.
What is the difference between 'occupied by' and 'occupied with'?
'Occupied by' usually describes who or what physically fills a space, as in 'the house is occupied by a young family.' 'Occupied with' describes what is taking up someone's time or attention, as in 'she was occupied with paperwork all morning.'
What is the difference between 'occupy' and 'preoccupy'?
To occupy someone's attention simply means to fill their time or hold their focus. To preoccupy someone is stronger, suggesting a thought or worry that dominates their mind and often distracts them from everything else.
When should you use 'occupy' instead of 'take up'?
'Occupy' and 'take up' both describe filling space or time, but 'occupy' is more formal and suits serious contexts such as military control or holding an official position. 'Take up' is more casual and common when talking about space, as in 'the sofa takes up half the room.'
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