Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb preoccupy

2 senses of preoccupy

Sense 1
preoccupy -- (engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively; "His work preoccupies him"; "The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else")
       => control, command -- (exercise authoritative control or power over; "control the budget"; "Command the military forces")

Sense 2
preoccupy -- (occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance; "the army preoccupied the hills")
       => assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogate -- (seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession; "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died")

Antonyms of adj preoccupied

2 senses of preoccupied

Sense 1
bemused, deep in thought (predicate), lost (predicate), preoccupied -- (deeply absorbed in thought; "as distant and bemused as a professor listening to the prattling of his freshman class"; "lost in thought"; "a preoccupied frown")

INDIRECT (VIA thoughtful) -> thoughtless -- (showing lack of careful thought; "the debate turned into thoughtless bickering")

Sense 2
haunted, obsessed, preoccupied, taken up (predicate) -- (having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something; "became more and more haunted by the stupid riddle"; "was absolutely obsessed with the girl"; "got no help from his wife who was preoccupied with the children"; "he was taken up in worry for the old woman")

INDIRECT (VIA concerned) -> unconcerned -- (lacking in interest or care or feeling; "the average American...is unconcerned that his or her plight is the result of a complex of personal and economic and governmental actions...beyond the normal citizen's comprehension and control"; "blithely unconcerned about his friend's plight")

Similarity of adj preoccupied

2 senses of preoccupied

Sense 1
bemused, deep in thought (predicate), lost (predicate), preoccupied -- (deeply absorbed in thought; "as distant and bemused as a professor listening to the prattling of his freshman class"; "lost in thought"; "a preoccupied frown")
       => thoughtful (vs. thoughtless) -- (exhibiting or characterized by careful thought; "a thoughtful paper")

Sense 2
haunted, obsessed, preoccupied, taken up (predicate) -- (having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something; "became more and more haunted by the stupid riddle"; "was absolutely obsessed with the girl"; "got no help from his wife who was preoccupied with the children"; "he was taken up in worry for the old woman")
       => concerned (vs. unconcerned) -- (feeling or showing worry or solicitude; "concerned parents of youthful offenders"; "was concerned about the future"; "we feel concerned about accomplishing the task at hand"; "greatly concerned not to disappoint a small child")