occupyverb [ T ]
uk/ˈɒk.jə.paɪ/us/ˈɑː.kjə.paɪ/occupy verb [ T ] (FILL)
B2 to fill, exist in, or use a place or period of time:
The rest of the time was occupied with writing a report.
The house hasn't been occupied (= lived in) by anyone for a few months.
formal A large picture of the battle of Waterloo occupied the space above the fireplace.
B2 to keep someone busy or interested:
On long journeys I occupy myself with solving maths puzzles.
More examples
- The programme will occupy that half-hour slot before the nine o'clock news.
- All physical objects occupy space.
- Historically, issues of this kind have not occupied the foreground of political debate.
- He occupies a prominent position in the rogues' gallery of the financial world.
- The house occupies a commanding position at the top of the valley.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Filling and completing
- brick
- brick up sth
- brim
- crowd
- crowd sb/sth out
- fill
- jam
- occupancy
- overcrowded
- overran
- overrun
- pack sth/somewhere out
- plug
- round
- supersaturated
- tank
- tank up
- top sb up
- top sth up
- wadding
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Making people excited and interested
occupy verb [ T ] (TAKE CONTROL)
C1 (of an army or group of people) to move into and take control and/or possession of a place:
Troops quickly occupied the city.
Protesting students occupied the university office for two weeks.
the occupying forces
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Attacking & invading
- ambush
- beleaguer
- beleaguered
- blitz
- blitz
- cyberwarfare
- engage
- engagement
- going-over
- incursion
- invade
- invader
- offensive
- rip into sb/sth
- rush
- sack
- sacking
- sally
- seize
- sortie
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