preoccupy Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively
    • His work preoccupies him
    • The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else
  2. verb occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance
    • the army preoccupied the hills

WordNet

Pre*oc"cu*py transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. F. préoccuper. See Preoccupate, Occupy.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Preoccupied present participle & verbal noun Preoccupying
Definitions
  1. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a country not before held.
  2. To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice.
    I Think it more respectful to the reader to leave something to reflections than to preoccupy his judgment. Arbuthnot.

Webster 1913