Definition of the word occupy

: to engage the attention or energies of

: to reside in as an owner or tenant

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.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Ukrainian forces occupy the high ground in some areas but are in lower elevation bowls in others, a tactically dangerous scenario, in which enemy troops can look down to rain gunfire and have an expansive view to call in artillery strikes.


—Anastacia Galouchka, Washington Post, 24 Mar. 2023




Only 14 suites — including the 1,000-square-foot Sky Penthouse with a private infinity pool (from $1,100 per night) — occupy more than 200 acres.


—Kathryn Romeyn, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Mar. 2023




Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world, mountains, caves, archeological sites, a dense rainforest, rivers, and enough flora and fauna to occupy any nature enthusiast.


—Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023




While all catfish species are found in a range of depths, channels usually occupy the shallowest water and blues the deepest.


—Pete M. Anderson, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023




Specializing in baked goods and international and Guatemalan cuisine, San Martín will occupy the former Coal Vines Pizza space at 5407 Belt Line Road next to EVO Cinemas, which closed in March 2020.


—Imelda García, Dallas News, 20 Mar. 2023




Vulcan also speculates that CEMEX will seek to occupy the property with the support of the military and police for an unknown period and distribute its unloaded materials to its customers.


—Brandon Gillespie, Fox News, 20 Mar. 2023




But Louis XVI never took a lover, meaning his wife effectively had to occupy the roles of both queen and mistress.


—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Mar. 2023




In this concept, Marine Littoral Regiments—organized around one infantry battalion, one air defense battalion, and anti-ship missile battery—occupy remote islands in contested water.


—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 16 Mar. 2023


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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘occupy.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Etymology

Middle English occupien «to take possession of, hold, inhabit, take up space in, fill, keep (oneself) busy,» borrowed from Anglo-French occuper, occupier, borrowed from Latin occupāre «to grasp, appropriate to oneself, take possession of, fill up (space, a position), forestall,» from oc-, assimilated variant of ob- ob- + -cupāre, intensive derivative of capere «to take, seize, catch» — more at heave entry 1

Note:
The source of the -i- in Anglo-French occupier and Middle English occupien, retained in Modern English, is unclear, as continental French has only occuper. The verb occupy, common in later Middle and early Modern English, was very infrequently used in the 17th and first two thirds of the 18th century; it has been suggested that this was due to the sense «to have sexual intercourse with (a woman),» which impinged by connotation on the less charged meanings and led to a taboo on any use of the word. When the socially unacceptable sense fell out of circulation occupy once more became a generally used word.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of occupy was
in the 14th century

Other forms: occupied; occupying; occupies

When you spend a lot of your free time reading tea leaves, you occupy yourself with that pastime, meaning it takes up your time and keeps you busy.

An army can invade another country and occupy its territory, and this use of the word reflects its original Latin meaning, which was «to seize.» There are also less aggressive forms of occupation, as with the family of chipmunks who occupy your garden. If you are the mayor of your town, you occupy an important office. And if you’re a fan of Andy Warhol, a series of Campbell’s soup can paintings may occupy a prominent place on your walls.

Definitions of occupy

1. verb

   live (in a certain place)

   “he
   occupies two rooms on the top floor”

   synonyms:

   lodge in, reside

2. synonyms:

   fill

   see moresee less

   types:

   crowd

   fill or occupy to the point of overflowing

   take up

   take up time or space

   type of:

   be

   occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere

3. verb

   require (time or space)

   “This event
   occupied a very short time”

   synonyms:

   take, use up

   consume, deplete, eat, eat up, exhaust, run through, use up, wipe out

   use up (resources or materials)

4. verb

   assume, as of positions or roles

   “he
   occupies the position of manager”

   “the young prince will soon
   occupy the throne”

   synonyms:

   fill, take

   assume, strike, take, take up

   occupy or take on

6. verb

   consume all of one’s attention or time

8. verb

   march aggressively into another’s territory by military force for the purposes of conquest and occupation