# preoccupied

/pɹiˈɑkjəˌpaɪd/ (US) · /pɹɪˈɒkjʊpˌaɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preoccupied
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

thinking or worrying about something so much that you do not pay attention to other things. You might look distracted or busy because your mind is elsewhere.

For teachers: engrossed in thought or distracted by a particular concern to the exclusion of other matters. Often used predicatively after linking verbs such as 'seem', 'look', or 'appear'.

## Examples

- She seemed preoccupied and didn't hear my question.
- The manager was too preoccupied with the upcoming audit to notice the morale issues within the team.
- While he tried to focus on the lecture, he remained visibly preoccupied by the news he had received earlier that morning, frequently checking his phone for updates.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He was preoccupied in his work." but "He was preoccupied with his work." — Preoccupied is followed by 'with' or 'by' rather than 'in' when describing the object of focus.

## Usage notes

- Typically takes the preposition 'with' or 'by' to indicate the cause of distraction.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.