occupies
v. B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɑkjəˌpaɪz// UK //ˈɒkjʊpˌaɪz// oc·cu·pies
v. to fill or use a space, an amount of time, or a person's mind. You use it when something stays in a place or keeps you busy.
v. to fill or take up space, time, or attention; to reside in or hold possession of a physical location. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Work occupies most of my time during the week.
The new library occupies the ground floor of the historic building in the city center.
While the physical structure occupies a small footprint, the cultural significance of the monument dominates the entire landscape and the local imagination.
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. In formal contexts, it can also refer to the military seizure of a territory.