English Dictionary

Definition of “occupy”

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occupy (ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪPronunciation for occupy) 

Definitions

verb

(tr)
  1. to live or be established in (a house, flat, office, etc)
  2. (often passive) to keep (a person) busy or engrossed; engage the attention of
  3. (often passive) to take up (a certain amount of time or space)
  4. to take and hold possession of, esp as a demonstration  ⇒ students occupied the college buildings 
  5. to fill or hold (a position or rank)

Word Origin

C14: from Old French occuper,  from Latin occupāre  to seize hold of, from ob-  (intensive) + capere to take

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= inhabit, own, live in, stay in, be established in dwell in be in residence in establish yourself in ensconce yourself in tenant, reside in, lodge in take up residence in make your home abide in
= invade, take over, capture, seize, conquer, keep, hold, garrison, overrun, annex, take possession of colonize, cybersquat
= hold, control, dominate, possess,
= take up, consume, tie up, use up, monopolize, keep busy or occupied
= engage, interest, involve, employ, busy, entertain, absorb, amuse, divert, preoccupy, immerse, hold the attention of engross, keep busy or occupied
= fill, take up, cover, fill up, utilize, pervade, permeate, extend over

Translations

  • British English: occupy Pronunciation for occupy The people who occupy a building or place are the people who live or work there.The company occupies the top floor of the building.ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ VERB The company occupies the top floor of the building.
  • Spanish: ocupar Pronunciation for ocupar v
  • French: occuper Pronunciation for occuper vt
  • German: bewohnen Pronunciation for bewohnen v
  • Chinese: 占领Pronunciation for 占领 v
  • Arabic: يَحْتَلُّPronunciation for يَحْتَلُّ vt
  • Portuguese: ocuparPronunciation for ocupar v
  • Russian: заниматьPronunciation for занимать v
  • Croatian: zauzetiPronunciation for zauzeti v
  • Czech: obývatPronunciation for obývat v
  • Danish: besættePronunciation for besætte v
  • Dutch: bezettenPronunciation for bezetten v
  • Finnish: asuaPronunciation for asua v
  • Greek: καταλαμβάνωPronunciation for καταλαμβάνω v
  • Italian: occuparePronunciation for occupare v
  • Japanese: 占めるPronunciation for 占める v
  • Korean: 점유하다Pronunciation for 점유하다 v
  • Norwegian: beboPronunciation for bebo v
  • Polish: okupićPronunciation for okupić v okupować
  • Brazilian Portuguese: ocuparPronunciation for ocupar v
  • European Spanish: ocupar Pronunciation for ocupar v
  • Swedish: ockuperaPronunciation for ockupera v
  • Thai: ยึดครองPronunciation for ยึดครอง v
  • Turkish: oturmakPronunciation for oturmak v
  • Vietnamese: chiếm đóngPronunciation for chiếm đóng v

Usage examples

  • I didn't feel awkward; he seemed to have things to occupy him.
    Robert Wilson, INSTRUMENTS OF DARKNESS (2002)
  • What is more, fingerprint examiners occupy a privileged position not enjoyed by most experts.
    New Scientist (2004)
  • Nearly 20 statues of leaders of authoritarian regimes occupy the rolling private garden of Harlan Crow, a Dallas real-estate investor.
    Globe and Mail (2003)
  • He said: "He knew that to occupy a space he had to say no to others.
    Liverpool Daily Post and Echo (2005)
  • Being on Stretton Ward, with little to occupy him or help him feel good, he started using heroin again.
    Dorothy Rowe, BEYOND FEAR (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'O'

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