preoccupy

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To distract; to draw attention elsewhere.

   The father tried to preoccupy the child with his keys.

2. 2
   verb

   To worry or concern (someone) so as to distract them.

   It always preoccupies me when he acts like this.

3. 3
   verb

   To occupy or take possession of beforehand.

   Terrified at this uproar, […] she ran for shelter into the place which was pre-occupied by the other lady […].

4. 4
   verb

   engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively

5. 5
   verb

   occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance

Etymology

From pre- + occupy, after Middle French preoccuper, and its source, Latin praeoccupo, praeoccupare. Doublet of preoccupate, now obsolete.