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View synonyms for

occupy

[ ok-yuh-pahy ]

verb (used with object)

occupied, occupying.
  1. to take or fill up (space, time, etc.):

    I occupied my evenings reading novels.

  2. to engage or employ the mind, energy, or attention of:

    Occupy the children with a game while I prepare dinner.

    Synonyms: ,

  3. to be a resident or tenant of; dwell in:

    We occupied the same house for 20 years.

  4. to hold (a position, office, etc.).
  5. to take possession and control of (a place), as by military invasion.

    Synonyms: ,

  6. Usually Occupy. to participate in a protest about (a social or political issue), as by taking possession or control of buildings or public places that are symbolic of the issue:

    Let’s Occupy our voting rights!

    The Occupy Wall Street movement of late 2011 was a protest against economic inequality.



verb (used without object)

occupied, occupying.
  1. to take or hold possession.
  2. Usually Occupy. to participate in a protest about a social or political issue.

adjective

  1. Usually Occupy. of or relating to a protest about a social or political issue, as in Occupy movement, Occupy protest, and Occupy candidate:

    the Occupy movement for social justice.

occupy

/ ˈɒʊˌ貹ɪ /

verb

  1. to live or be established in (a house, flat, office, etc)
  2. often passive to keep (a person) busy or engrossed; engage the attention of
  3. often passive to take up (a certain amount of time or space)
  4. to take and hold possession of, esp as a demonstration

    students occupied the college buildings

  5. to fill or hold (a position or rank)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • dz··辱·· adjective
  • dz··辱· noun
  • ·dz·· verb misoccupied misoccupying
  • ·dz·· verb (used with object) reoccupied reoccupying
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Word History and Origins

Origin of occupy1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English occupien, from Middle French occuper, from Latin dzܱ “to seize, take hold, take up, make one's own,” equivalent to oc- oc- + -cup-, combining form of capere “to take, seize” + - infinitive suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of occupy1

C14: from Old French occuper, from Latin dzܱ to seize hold of, from ob- (intensive) + capere to take
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Synonym Study

See have.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The UN says Israel - as an occupying power - is obliged under international law to ensure supplies for the 2.1 million Palestinians in Gaza.

From

He also admitted three counts of causing serious injury by careless driving in relation to the Fiat, occupied by a 10 and 12-year-old travelling with their stepmother.

From

Reuters says it has also seen a counter-proposals from Europe and Ukraine, which reportedly say the sides will only discuss what happens to occupied Ukrainian territory once a ceasefire has come into effect.

From

There is no sign that China is permanently occupying the 200 sq metre island and the coastguard is reported to have left.

From

The US deal offers American legal acceptance of Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and de facto recognition of Russian control of other occupied areas, including all of Luhansk region.

From

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