Dictionary

occupy

verb oc·cu·py \ˈä-kyə-ˌpī\

: to live in (a house, apartment, etc.)

: to fill or be in (a place or space)

: to fill or use (an amount of time)

oc·cu·piedoc·cu·py·ing

Full Definition of OCCUPY

transitive verb
1
:  to engage the attention or energies of
2
a :  to take up (a place or extent in space) <this chair is occupied> <the fireplace will occupy this corner of the room>
b :  to take or fill (an extent in time) <the hobby occupies all of my free time>
3
a :  to take or hold possession or control of <enemy troops occupied the ridge>
b :  to fill or perform the functions of (an office or position)
4
:  to reside in as an owner or tenant
oc·cu·pi·er \-ˌpī(-ə)r\ noun
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of OCCUPY

Middle English occupien to take possession of, occupy, from Anglo-French occupier, occuper, from Latin occupare, from ob- toward + -cupare (akin to capere to seize) — more at ob-, heave
First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with OCCUPY

abide by, Adonai, alibi, alkali, amplify, apple-pie, argufy, assegai, azo dye, basify, beautify, butterfly, by-and-by, caddis fly, calcify, certify, Chou En-lai, citify, clarify, classify, coalify, cockneyfy, codify, college try, cottage pie, crucify, cut-and-try, cutie-pie, DIY, damnify, damselfly, dandify, deify, densify, dignify, dobsonfly, do-or-die, dragonfly, dulcify, eagle eye, edify, evil eye, falsify, fancify, fortify, frenchify, fructify, gasify, Gemini, gentrify, glorify, goggle-eye, goldeneye, gratify, Haggai, harvest fly, hexerei, high and dry, hip and thigh, Hokusai, hook and eye, horrify, hoverfly, humble pie, Iceni, justify, kiss good-bye, lazy eye, lignify, liquefy, lithify, Lorelei, lullaby, Madurai, magnify, Malachi, Maracay, minify, modify, mollify, Molokai, Mordecai, mortify, multi-ply, multiply, mummify, mystify, nazify, notify, nullify, old school tie, on standby, on the fly, ossify, overbuy, overfly, overlie, pacify, Paraguay, passerby, peccavi, petrify, PPI, preachify, prettify, private eye, prophesy, purify, putrefy, qualify, quantify, ramify, rarefy, ratify, RBI, rectify, reify, res gestae, robber fly, runner's high, Russify, samurai, sanctify, satisfy, scarify, schwarmerei, semidry, set store by, shepherd's pie, shoofly pie, signify, simplify, Spanish fly, specify, speechify, stratify, stultify, stupefy, sweetie pie, Tenebrae, terrify, testify, tie-and-dye, tigereye, Trans Alai, tumble dry, typify, uglify, underlie, unify, Uruguay, Veneti, verify, versify, vilify, vinify, vitrify, vivify, weather eye, Windsor tie, xanthene dye, yuppify, zombify
OCCUPY Defined for Kids

occupy

verb oc·cu·py \ˈä-kyə-ˌpī\
oc·cu·piedoc·cu·py·ing

Definition of OCCUPY for Kids

1
:  to fill up (an extent of time or space) <Sports occupy our spare time.> <A liter of water occupies 1000 cubic centimeters of space.>
2
:  to take up the attention or energies of <Reading occupied me most of the summer.>
3
:  to live in as an owner or tenant <Her sisters occupied the house for three years.>
4
:  to take or hold possession of <Enemy troops occupied the town.>
5
:  to perform the functions of <She occupies a position of authority.>

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: occurPrevious Word in the Dictionary: occupiableAll Words Near: occupy
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears