occupy
verb
oc·cu·py
ˈä-kyə-ˌpī 
occupied; occupying
1
: to engage the attention or energies of
They occupied themselves with video games.
2
a
: to take up (a place or extent in space)
this chair is occupied
the fireplace will occupy this corner of the room
b
: to take or fill (an extent in time)
the hobby occupies all of my free time
3
a
: to take or hold possession or control of
enemy troops occupied the ridge
b
: to fill or perform the functions of (an office or position)
will occupy the newly created office of chancellor—
Current Biography
4
: to reside in as an owner or tenant
occupies an apartment on a two-year lease
Synonyms
Examples of occupy in a Sentence
They have occupied the apartment for three years.
She occupies the house that her grandfather built 50 years ago.
They own another house that they occupy only three months out of the year.
They occupy the room next to ours.
This region was once almost completely occupied by forests.
Their house occupies a beautiful spot next to the ocean.
Much of our time is occupied by answering questions from our customers.
These questions have continued to occupy her mind.
Recent Examples on the Web
Brown occupies a curious position in the vast industry of college football—both at the center of it and incidental to the massive changes wrought by conference realignment.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024
The engine-and-generator room occupies about 775 square feet under the aft beach club, while the 118-square-foot fuel-cell cluster is located toward the bow.
—Katia Damborsky, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2024
At 6-13, the Hornets currently occupy the No. 12 seed in the lowly Eastern Conference.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2024
Our Place offers a lot more than just nice cookware and appliances, so if stylish kitchen tools occupy a spot on your list of holiday needs, look no further.
—Megan Wahn, Architectural Digest, 29 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for occupy 
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Dictionary Entries Near occupy
Cite this Entry
“Occupy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/occupy. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
occupy
verb
oc·cu·py
ˈäk-yə-ˌpī
occupied; occupying
1
a
: to take up the attention or energies of
reading occupied me most of the summer
b
: to fill up (space or time)
sports occupied most of their spare time
a liter of water occupies 1000 cubic centimeters of space
2
a
: to take or hold possession of
enemy troops occupied the town
b
: to live in as owner or tenant
occupy an apartment
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