preoccupation

A preoccupation with what others have on their shelves might be purely aesthetic, but often conveys something more, like a sense of judgment.

From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2026

The preoccupation with sizes, in particular, was something many international fans remarked about when interviewed by the BBC about their reflections on visiting America.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

"People taking these drugs for obesity often describe a quieting of 'food noise,' the persistent preoccupation with food that drives overeating," Al-Aly said.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2026

Horror has long been a preoccupation for Boston.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2026

It was a preoccupation, verging on obsession, that would inform his decisions, and guide his energies.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

There are new issues to concern ourselves with in mid-life and, as you'd expect, Horgan doesn't shy away from embarrassing situations or mildly unhealthy preoccupations.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

“Underneath an artist’s preoccupations with sex, society, religion, etc.,” the narrator insists, “there is a soul tortured beyond endurance by the lack of tenderness in the world.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

With “Olmo,” in theaters Friday, Eimbcke has adapted his career-long interest on the youth’s preoccupations to a story on this side of the Mexico-U.S. border for the first time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Besides appealing to what Disraeli’s later acolytes saw as the people’s inclination to a natural order, it reached around preoccupations with transforming institutions to tap into a deeper conservatism.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

They talked about a devastating erosion in standards, how the students of today bore no resemblance to the students of even ten or fifteen years ago, how their preoccupations were with anything but school.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger