past form and past participle
Used a particular place or amount of space, or was used or filled by someone or something.
The old sofa occupied half the room.
The room was occupied by a family.
American English
How to pronounce occupied
verb · adjectiveB2Common word
AHKyuhpaid
/ˈɑk.jəˌpaɪd̚/
3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of occupy
Occupied is also commonly used as an adjective for a place that is in use or a person who is busy.
Used a particular place or amount of space, or was used or filled by someone or something.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
adjective
Already in use or filled by someone or something.
The bathroom is occupied right now.
Please wait; that seat is occupied.
past form and past participle
Kept someone busy, or was kept busy with an activity.
The game occupied the children for an hour.
The children were occupied by a challenging puzzle.
adjective
Busy doing or dealing with something.
She was occupied with her new project.
The doctor is occupied with a patient.
Useful expressions
to keep yourself busy by doing or using something
I occupied myself with a crossword.
to be busy doing or dealing with something
She was occupied with a client.
Related words & forms
The spelling changes to i in occupies and occupied, but the y stays in occupying.