If you are preoccupied, you are thinking a lot about something or someone, and so you hardly notice other things.
Tom Banbury was preoccupied with the missing Shepherd child and did not want to devotetime to the new murder. [+ with/by]
She looked very preoccupied.
More Synonyms of preoccupied
preoccupied in British English
(priːˈɒkjʊˌpaɪd)
adjective
1.
engrossed or absorbed in something, esp one's own thoughts
2.
already or previously occupied
3. biology
(of a taxonomic name) already used to designate a genus, species, etc
preoccupied in American English
(priˈɑkjuˌpaɪd; priˈɑkjəˌpaɪd)
adjective
1.
previously or already occupied
2.
wholly occupied with or absorbed in one's thoughts; engrossed
3. Biology
designating or of a taxonomic name already used and hence no longer available
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈabˈsent-minded
Examples of 'preoccupied' in a sentence
preoccupied
He seemed preoccupied with himself and he presented his opinions forcefully.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
His evidence is fully compatible with other data and a less preoccupied explanation.
Forrest, Ray & Murie, Alan & Williams, Peter Home-ownership - differentiation and fragmentation (1990)
You seem a bit preoccupied today.
The Sun (2015)
With both parents being busy and preoccupied, there were not many family dinners.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But the reason they go back is that they've become preoccupied with their thirst.
Christianity Today (2000)
Their mother seemed anxious and preoccupied, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Governments and parents have become increasingly preoccupied in recent decades with measurable academic attainment, forcing schools and teachers to follow suit.
Paul Martin MAKING HAPPY PEOPLE (2005)
It is not a good thing, or necessary, to become preoccupied by our weight.
Munro, Bill Dr. & Munro, Frances Beat Stress (1992)
At dinner the night before our interview, the poet from east Belfast seems distant and preoccupied.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
preoccupied
British English: preoccupied /priːˈɒkjʊˌpaɪd/ ADJECTIVE
If you are preoccupied, you are thinking a lot about something or someone, and so you hardly notice other things.
Try not to become so preoccupied with work that you forget about your family and friends.
American English: preoccupied
Arabic: مَشْغُولُ البَال
Brazilian Portuguese: preocupado
Chinese: 全神贯注的
Croatian: preokupiran
Czech: zamyšlený
Danish: fordybet i
Dutch: in beslag genomen
European Spanish: absorto
Finnish: ajatuksiinsa uppoutunut
French: préoccupé
German: gedankenverloren
Greek: συλλογισμένος
Italian: preoccupato
Japanese: 余念のない
Korean: 몰두한
Norwegian: åndsfraværende
Polish: pochłonięty
European Portuguese: preocupado
Romanian: preocupat
Russian: озабоченный
Latin American Spanish: absorto
Swedish: tankfull
Thai: ใจจดใจจ่อ
Turkish: kafasını takmış
Ukrainian: зайнятий
Vietnamese: bận tâm
Chinese translation of 'preoccupied'
preoccupied
(priːˈɔkjupaɪd)
adj
[person]全神贯(貫)注的 (quánshén guànzhù de)
to be preoccupied with sth为某事心事重重 (wèi mǒushì xīnshì chóngchóng)
1 (adjective)
They were preoccupied with their own concerns.
Synonyms
absorbed
They were completely absorbed in each other.
taken up
caught up
lost
She was silent for a while, lost in thought.
intent
She looked from one intent face to another.
wrapped up
immersed
He's really becoming immersed in his work.
engrossed
He didn't notice because he was too engrossed in his work.
rapt
I noticed that everyone was watching me with rapt attention.
2 (adjective)
He was too preoccupied to notice what was going on.
Synonyms
lost in thought
abstracted
The same abstracted look was still on her face.
distracted
unaware
She was unaware that she was being filmed.
oblivious
She appeared oblivious to her surroundings.
faraway
absent-minded
The laptop was exactly where its absent-minded owner had left it.
heedless
distrait
in a brown study
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absent-minded
Definition
inattentive or forgetful
The laptop was exactly where its absent-minded owner had left it.
Synonyms
forgetful,
absorbed,
abstracted,
vague,
absent,
distracted,
unaware,
musing,
preoccupied,
careless,
bemused,
oblivious,
dreamy,
faraway,
engrossed,
unthinking,
neglectful,
heedless,
inattentive,
unmindful,
unheeding,
apt to forget,
in a brown study,
ditzy or ditsy (slang)
in the sense of abstracted
Definition
lost in thought
The same abstracted look was still on her face.
Synonyms
preoccupied,
withdrawn,
remote,
absorbed,
intent,
absent,
distracted,
unaware,
wrapped up,
bemused,
immersed,
oblivious,
dreamy,
daydreaming,
faraway,
engrossed,
rapt,
absent-minded,
heedless,
inattentive,
distrait,
woolgathering
in the sense of distrait
Definition
absent-minded or abstracted
Synonyms
absent-minded,
abstracted,
absent,
distracted,
unaware,
preoccupied,
oblivious,
forgetful,
inattentive,
ditzy or ditsy (slang)
Synonyms of 'preoccupied'
preoccupied
Explore 'preoccupied' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of engrossed
He didn't notice because he was too engrossed in his work.
Synonyms
absorbed,
lost,
involved,
occupied,
deep,
engaged,
gripped,
fascinated,
caught up,
intrigued,
intent,
preoccupied,
immersed,
riveted,
captivated,
enthralled,
rapt
in the sense of immersed
He's really becoming immersed in his work.
Synonyms
engrossed,
involved,
absorbed,
deep,
busy,
occupied,
taken up,
buried,
consumed,
wrapped up,
bound up,
rapt,
spellbound,
mesmerized,
in a brown study
in the sense of intent
Definition
having one's attention firmly fixed
She looked from one intent face to another.
Synonyms
absorbed,
focused,
fixed,
earnest,
committed,
concentrated,
occupied,
intense,
fascinated,
steady,
alert,
wrapped up,
preoccupied,
enthralled,
attentive,
watchful,
engrossed,
steadfast,
rapt,
enrapt
in the sense of lost
Definition
engrossed (in)
She was silent for a while, lost in thought.
Synonyms
engrossed,
taken up,
absorbed,
entranced,
abstracted,
absent,
distracted,
preoccupied,
immersed,
dreamy,
rapt,
spellbound
in the sense of oblivious
Definition
unaware or unconscious
She appeared oblivious to her surroundings.
Synonyms
unaware,
unconscious,
ignorant,
regardless,
careless,
negligent,
blind to,
unaffected by,
impervious to,
forgetful,
deaf to,
unconcerned about,
neglectful,
heedless,
inattentive,
insensible,
unmindful,
unobservant,
disregardful,
incognizant
in the sense of rapt
Definition
totally engrossed
I noticed that everyone was watching me with rapt attention.