/ priˈɒkjupaɪ; NAmE -ˈɑːk-/ verb
( pre·occu·pies , pre·occu·py·ing , pre·occu·pied , pre·occu·pied ) [ vn ] if sth is preoccupying you, you think or worry about it very often or all the time
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from pre- + occupy , suggested by Latin praeoccupare seize beforehand.