preoccupied
Translation
preoccupied, absorbed, distracted, engrossed
Examples
He was too preoccupied to notice me.
He was too preoccupied to notice me.
She seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts.
She seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts.
Grammar Patterns
be preoccupied with ((sth.)) to be thinking or worrying about sth. a lot She seemed preoccupied with her own thoughts.
Similar Words
Synonyms: absorbed, engrossed, distracted; Antonyms: attentive, focused
Etymology
Past participle of the verb 'preoccupy'. 'Pre-' (before) + 'occupy'. The mind is already occupied.
Memory Tips
Imagine a 'pre-occupied' sign on the door to someone's mind, so no new thoughts can get in.