preoccupy

• Verbe utilisé pour désigner l'action d'occuper entièrement ou d'absorber l'attention ou les pensées de quelqu'un, souvent au détriment d'autres activités.

A verb used to indicate the act of engaging or absorbing someone's attention or mind completely, often to the exclusion of other matters.

1. Engage attentionB2formal

   To completely absorb or engross someone's interest or thoughts, often in a way that excludes other things.

   Occuper entièrement l'esprit

   • The upcoming exam preoccupied her mind for weeks.
   • His work constantly preoccupies him, leaving little time for hobbies.
   • The mystery of the missing painting preoccupied the detective.

   Synonymesabsorbconsumedistractengageengrossgripimmersemonopolizeobsessoccupy

   Antonymesdisregardignoreneglect

2. Occupy beforehandC1formal

   To take possession of or occupy something in advance, before another person or event.

   occuper à l'avance

   • The new tenant preoccupied the apartment before the lease officially started.
   • The team preoccupied the meeting room for their private discussion.
   • The land was preoccupied by settlers before the survey was completed.

   Synonymespreemptprepossess