- occupy
- [[t]ɒ̱kjʊpaɪ[/t]]
♦♦occupies, occupying, occupied1) VERB The people who occupy a building or a place are the people who live or work there.
[V n] There were over 40 tenants, all occupying one wing of the hospital...
[V n] Land is, in most instances, purchased by those who occupy it.
Syn:2) V-PASSIVE If a room or something such as a seat is occupied, someone is using it, so that it is not available for anyone else.[be V-ed] The hospital bed is no longer occupied by his wife...
[be V-ed] I saw three camp beds, two of which were occupied.
Ant:3) VERB If a group of people or an army occupies a place or country, they move into it, using force in order to gain control of it.[V n] U.S. forces now occupy a part of the country...
[V n] Alexandretta had been occupied by the French in 1918 after the defeat of Turkey.
[V-ed] ...the occupied territories.
4) VERB If someone or something occupies a particular place in a system, process, or plan, they have that place.[V n] We occupy a quality position in the market place...
[V n] Many men still occupy more positions of power than women.
Syn:5) VERB If something occupies you, or if you occupy yourself, your time, or your mind with it, you are busy doing that thing or thinking about it.[V n] Her parliamentary career has occupied all of her time...
[V pron-refl with n] He hurried to take the suitcases and occupy himself with packing the car...
[V pron-refl] I would deserve to be pitied if I couldn't occupy myself. [Also V n with n]
Derived words:occupied ADJ-GRADED v-link ADJ, oft ADJ with nKeep the brain occupied...
I had forgotten all about it because I had been so occupied with other things.
6) VERB If something occupies you, it requires your efforts, attention, or time.[V n] I had other matters to occupy me, during the day at least...
[V n] This challenge will occupy Europe for a generation or more.
7) VERB If something occupies a particular area or place, it fills or covers it, or exists there.[V n] Even quite small aircraft occupy a lot of space...
[V n] Bookshelves occupied most of the living room walls.
Syn:8) VERB If something such as a journey occupies a particular period of time, it takes that amount of time to complete.[V n] She reached Karachi on Monday evening, the journey having occupied three days and nine hours.
Syn:
English dictionary. 2008.