adjective Uncommon

preoccupied

Preoccupied (adjective) means So absorbed in one's own thoughts or concerns that one pays little attention to anything else. Example: “She seemed preoccupied and barely heard what he said.”

adjective

So absorbed in one's own thoughts or concerns that one pays little attention to anything else.

"She seemed preoccupied and barely heard what he said."

"He was too preoccupied with work to notice the change in her mood."

How to use preoccupied

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDistracted because your mind is stuck on something else.

Common pairings

preoccupied with looked preoccupied

Word forms

more preoccupied comparative, most preoccupied superlative

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She seemed _____ and barely heard what he said.

Rhymes for preoccupied

lied pied tied fried dried tried denied allied buried varied envied untied

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Frequently asked questions

What does “preoccupied” mean?

The word “preoccupied” means so absorbed in one's own thoughts or concerns that one pays little attention to anything else. In plain terms, distracted because your mind is stuck on something else.

How do you use “preoccupied” in a sentence?

Here is “preoccupied” used in a sentence: “She seemed preoccupied and barely heard what he said.”

What part of speech is “preoccupied”?

“Preoccupied” is an adjective.

Is “preoccupied” a common word?

“Preoccupied” is an uncommon word in modern English.