American English
/ˈɑ.kjə.paɪ/
3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
to use a particular place or amount of space
In “occupy,” the main stress is on the first syllable: /ˈɑ.kjə.paɪ/. The final syllable may have a little extra emphasis, but it should not receive the main stress.
to use a particular place or amount of space
The sofa occupies most of the room.
Two cars occupied the parking spaces.
occupy a seat · occupy space · occupy a room
occupy + a place/space/seat
be occupied by + someone/something
to keep someone busy, or to keep yourself busy, with an activity
The game occupied the children for an hour.
I occupied myself with a book.
occupy yourself · occupy your time
occupy + someone + with + something
occupy yourself with + something
to take control of a country, city, or building by military force
Enemy forces occupied the city.
The army occupied the building overnight.
occupy a country · occupying forces
occupy + a country/city/building
to have a particular job or position, especially an important one
She occupies a senior position at the bank.
A young lawyer now occupies the top position.
occupy a senior position · occupy a key position
occupy + a position/post
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.
The spelling changes to i in occupies and occupied, but the y stays in occupying.