Synonyms for occupy
Synonyms by meaning
Verb
1. Fill — to take or use. To fill or hold (an official position or role)
take, fill, hold, have, possess, use up, entertain, assume, sleep with, abide, seize, swive dated
2. Absorb
absorb, engage, engross, monopolize, monopolise UK, arrest
3. Busy — to take or use. To possess or use the time or capacity of; to engage the service of
Definitions
- v. 1
To take or use. To possess or use the time or capacity of; to engage the service of.
The film occupied me for three hours.
- v. 2
To take or use. To fill or hold (an official position or role).
I occupy the post of deputy cat catcher.
- v. 3
To take or use. To fill.
The film occupied three hours of my time.
- v. 4
To take or use. To hold the attention of.
I occupied her friend while he made his proposal.
Related words
- Word family
- occupier occupant occupation
- Phrases
- occupy oneself
Forms
- Past participle
- occupied
e.g. occupied → taken, filled, possest, entertained…
Choose the right word
To own is to have the right of property in; to possess is to have that right in actual exercise; to occupy is to have possession and use, with some degree of permanency, with or without ownership.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- fill Please fill in your name and address on this form.
- possess Happiness does not consist of how much you possess.
- entertain Will you entertain the guests while I get dressed?
- engage I'd like to engage in foreign trade in the future.
- absorb The glass can't absorb water, but the curtain can.
By length
- 4 letters
- have1, take1, hold1, busy2, fill1
- 5 letters
- cover2, worry2, seize1, abide2, amuse2, swive
- 6 letters
- assume2, arrest2, engage2, employ2, absorb2, reside2, invade2, inwone
- 7 letters
- concern2, possess2, consume2, swallow2, inhabit3, engross2, coitize
- 8 letters
- interest2, exercise3
- 9 letters
- entertain3
- 10 letters
- monopolize4, monopolise
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (busy2 = 2 syllables).