as in engaged
involved in often constant activity
the boy is constantly occupied, usually with sports or schoolwork
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in interested
to hold the attention of
a puzzle will occupy that child for hours
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of occupied
Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Its power has withered amid years without peace negotiations and Israel tightening its grip on the occupied West Bank.
—Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
The technocrats, many of whom are career officials from the Palestinian Authority that governs parts of the occupied West Bank, have instead spent their time in meetings, making policy plans for their eventual return to the Gaza Strip and its mounting humanitarian challenges.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
Don’t call 911 unless a tree has fallen on an occupied home or downed power lines.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Attitudes toward Israel among EU member states, already strained by Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, have hardened further amid the ongoing Israeli invasion of Lebanon and a new law passed on the death penalty for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
—April 21, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Europe turned its attention to the Palestinians on Monday as the election defeat of Israel ally Victor Orban in Hungary gives new momentum to efforts addressing Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
When Likud, the right-wing party of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, first came to power in 1977, settlements in the occupied West Bank gained legal status in Israeli law.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
Daniel Chong, 104 minutes Pixar’s latest family-friendly charmer depicts a land war — over a patch of earth that was once occupied by beavers and other wildlife and that human developers are eager to blow up for a highway.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Away goes the space normally occupied by pickup trucks and Weber grills.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Judging by the newish seating in the plaza a few blocks away between Grand Central Terminal and One Vanderbilt, it will not be permanently occupied by unhoused people.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Apr. 2026
Heppner lost several family members to concentration camps, including his maternal grandfather, who was murdered in Sobibor in occupied Poland with two brothers.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The brand has also looked to juice interest through this year’s Beijing Auto Show, where BYD has occupied an entire exhibition hall.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
There is no access to the area in southern Lebanon now occupied by Israel – not for residents or journalists.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
And until now, vertebrate predators such as large marine reptiles, sharks and fishes were thought to have commanded the seas, Iba said, but the fossils hint that octopuses may also have occupied the top of the food web.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
An Israeli military battalion that assaulted and detained a CNN team in the occupied West Bank has been redeployed after a one-month suspension, an Israeli security source told CNN.
—Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Its power has withered amid years without peace negotiations and Israel tightening its grip on the occupied West Bank.
—Sam Metz, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2026
The technocrats, many of whom are career officials from the Palestinian Authority that governs parts of the occupied West Bank, have instead spent their time in meetings, making policy plans for their eventual return to the Gaza Strip and its mounting humanitarian challenges.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 25 Apr. 2026
Don’t call 911 unless a tree has fallen on an occupied home or downed power lines.
—Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Attitudes toward Israel among EU member states, already strained by Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, have hardened further amid the ongoing Israeli invasion of Lebanon and a new law passed on the death penalty for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
—April 21, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
Europe turned its attention to the Palestinians on Monday as the election defeat of Israel ally Victor Orban in Hungary gives new momentum to efforts addressing Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
—Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
When Likud, the right-wing party of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, first came to power in 1977, settlements in the occupied West Bank gained legal status in Israeli law.
—Arie Perliger, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Beginning in the late 1970s, it was occupied by actor, puppeteer, and voice artist Chuck McCann and his wife, William Morris agent Betty Fanning, who lived there for 45 years until their deaths in 2018 and early 2026, respectively.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 30 Apr. 2026
Daniel Chong, 104 minutes Pixar’s latest family-friendly charmer depicts a land war — over a patch of earth that was once occupied by beavers and other wildlife and that human developers are eager to blow up for a highway.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 30 Apr. 2026
Away goes the space normally occupied by pickup trucks and Weber grills.
—David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 30 Apr. 2026
Judging by the newish seating in the plaza a few blocks away between Grand Central Terminal and One Vanderbilt, it will not be permanently occupied by unhoused people.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Apr. 2026
Heppner lost several family members to concentration camps, including his maternal grandfather, who was murdered in Sobibor in occupied Poland with two brothers.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 30 Apr. 2026
The brand has also looked to juice interest through this year’s Beijing Auto Show, where BYD has occupied an entire exhibition hall.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 30 Apr. 2026
There is no access to the area in southern Lebanon now occupied by Israel – not for residents or journalists.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
And until now, vertebrate predators such as large marine reptiles, sharks and fishes were thought to have commanded the seas, Iba said, but the fossils hint that octopuses may also have occupied the top of the food web.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for occupied
Adjective
-
Even if a fraction of the clip audience watches or listens to the entirety of something, that audience tends to be very engaged and usually motivated to pay for that content.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The engaged core audience became brand ambassadors, and the resulting social reach was the best launch the client had ever had.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As to why the format interested him, Hawley pointed to a similarity with Fargo.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Cindy would give Ann gourmet popcorn or maybe a sweatshirt from her alma mater, while Ann would give Cindy a special book on a topic that interested her, or maybe an old batch of family recipes.—
Ross Channing Reed,
The Conversation,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Lucas Giolito had a busy first full day in the Padres organization.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
-
As always, our NASCAR experts, Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, took time out of their busy schedules to answer all our Talladega questions.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Oak Leaf Trail is one of my favorite ways to get immersed in Milwaukee’s beauty.—
Kate Van Dyke,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, the speaker's three class-D amplifiers, subwoofers, and both front- and rear-facing tweeters ensure that everyone can get immersed in its soundscape.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
He was particularly intrigued by schizophrenia—the pinnacle of madness and the most complex puzzle of all.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Many people like me — scientists and coffee enthusiasts — were intrigued by a long-term study that found that those who drank multiple cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop dementia.—
Richard M. Ransohoff,
Washington Post,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
These trees need proper attention to grow to their full potential—pruning is essential, as is being diligent against pests.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Defenseman Jacob Moverare was highlighted with the Daryl Evans Youth Hockey Service Award for his diligent and enthusiastic work with the Kings’ learn-to-play program.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There will be clinics for players with disabilities alongside coaching courses and referee sessions to help get more people involved in the sport.—
Lisa Hughes,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Criminal charges also were filed against two Chinese nationals involved in a similar operation in Myanmar.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Alicia Johnson, who lives in Onarga in Iroquois County, said she was fascinated by the neighborhood.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The Zeigler case has fascinated the public for decades.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Occupied.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/occupied. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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