preoccupy

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively
  2. verb occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance

Etymology

From pre- + occupy, after Middle French preoccuper, and its source, Latin praeoccupo, praeoccupare. Doublet of preoccupate, now obsolete.

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