preoccupying

Variant of preoccupy

preoccupy definition

pre·oc·cupy (prē äk′yo̵̅o̅ pī′, -yə-)

transitive verb preoccupied -·pied′, preoccupying -·py′·ing

  1. to occupy the thoughts of to the virtual exclusion of other matters; engross; absorb
  2. to occupy or take possession of before someone else or beforehand

Etymology: MFr preoccuper < L praeoccupare: see pre- & occupy

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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