be preoccupied

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But the betting here is that a viewer will be preoccupied by thinking about the multitude of head injuries someone like Robby would encounter in the E.R., and why he doesn’t wear a helmet himself.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

"Write-in responses showed that consumers continued to be preoccupied with rising prices in general, and for grocery and gasoline prices in particular," said Dana Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board.

From Reuters • Oct. 31, 2023

“And when you do that, you can’t be preoccupied anymore about, ‘Oh my God, I feel so horrible.’”

From Seattle Times • Jun. 16, 2023

Now I think that while we certainly shouldn’t be preoccupied with policing microaggressions or silencing contrarian viewpoints, we need to take the comfort of students far more seriously.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2022

And his father...his father would always be preoccupied with conquest—and wouldn’t stop until every continent bore Adarlan’s flag.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas