1. to engage or fill the mind of (someone) to the exclusion of other thoughts
2. to take possession of (a place) beforehand or before another
Usage: formal

Examples

• Financial worries preoccupied her thoughts all day.
• The upcoming exam preoccupied the students for weeks.
• He was so preoccupied with work that he forgot dinner.
• Her mind was preoccupied with plans for the wedding.
• The army moved to preoccupy the strategic hill before dawn.
• Don’t let negative thoughts preoccupy your mind.
• The children were preoccupied with their new video game.