occupy

CEFRB1

/ˈɒkjʊpaɪ/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To fill or use a place, time, or position.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To take or use.

Examples

  • I think I will occupy myself in my father's business.

  • Smokers are asked to occupy the rear seats.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. To fill.

  2. To possess or use the time or capacity of; to engage the service of.

  3. To fill or hold (an official position or role).

More examples

In context

  • The bed seemed to occupy most of the room.

  • I occupy myself with gardening for a few hours every day.

  • The film occupied me for three hours.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The large sofa blank most of the living room space.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English occupien, occupyen, borrowed from Old French occuper, from Latin occupāre (“to take possession of, seize, occupy, take up, employ”), from ob (“to, on”) + capiō (“to take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“to seize, grab”). Doublet of occupate, now obsolete.