English verb: preoccupy | |||
1. | preoccupy (emotion) engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively | ||
Samples | His work preoccupies him. The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else. | ||
Pattern of use | Something ----s somebody | ||
Broader (hypernym) | command, control | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | ghost, haunt, obsess, prepossess | ||
2. | preoccupy (possession) occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance | ||
Samples | The army preoccupied the hills. | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | arrogate, assume, seize, take over, usurp | ||