Definitions

1. verb

to occupy or fill the thoughts of (someone) so that they are unable to think of anything else; to occupy (someone) so that they cannot give their full attention to something else.

“Her thoughts were preoccupied with the news of the natural disaster.”

2. verb

to take up the time or attention of (something) so that it cannot be used for something else.

“The long meeting preoccupied the entire afternoon.”

3. noun

a state of being preoccupied or having one’s thoughts occupied.

“The sense of calm helped to alleviate her preoccupations.”