First Known Use: 14th century
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
See occupy defined for English-language learners
See occupy defined for kids
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Origin of OCCUPY
Related to OCCUPY
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
OCCUPYING 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.>
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