preoccupy

English

Etymology

From pre- +‎ occupy.

Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /pɹiˈɒkjupaɪ/, X-SAMPA: /pri"QkjupaI/
• (GenAm) IPA: /pɹiˈɑkjupaɪ/, X-SAMPA: /pri"AkjupaI/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

preoccupy (third-person singular simple present preoccupies, present participle preoccupying, simple past and past participle preoccupied)

1. To distract; to occupy or draw attention elsewhere.

   The father tried to preoccupy the child with his keys.

Translations

distract

• Greek: απορροφώ (el) (aporrofó), απασχολώ (el) (apascholó) (τη σκέψη)