Meaning & Definition of word "Preoccupied"
Preoccupied
/priːˈɒkjʊpaɪd/
adjective:
- 1. Engaged in thought; distracted or absorbed in one's thoughts, often to the exclusion of other matters.
- Example: She seemed preoccupied during the meeting, hardly paying attention to what was being discussed.
- 2. Having one's mind focused on something specific, often to the detriment of being aware of one's surroundings.
- Example: He was so preoccupied with his work that he forgot to eat lunch.
- 3. Characterized by an intense focus or concern that occupies the person's thoughts.
- Example: The student was preoccupied with worries about upcoming exams, leaving little room for anything else.
- 4. In a state of preoccupancy; occupied or taken up with thoughts, often leading to inattentiveness.
- Example: They were preoccupied with their plans for the weekend, ignoring the rain outside.
Etymology
●Derived from Middle French 'préoccupé' and Latin 'praeoccupare', meaning to seize beforehand.
Common Phrases and Expressions
preoccupied with:
Completely absorbed or absorbed in a particular thought or activity.
preoccupied mind:
A mind that is occupied with thoughts or worries.
get preoccupied:
To become absorbed in thought or concern.
Related Words
occupy:
To take up space or time; to engage or hold the attention.
concerned:
Worried or anxious about something.
Slang Meanings of preoccupied
Meaning: Spacey
● Example Sentence: She's been really spacey lately, just totally preoccupied.
Meaning: In a zone
● Example Sentence: When he’s in a zone, he's super preoccupied with the task.