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Nearby Words
preoccupy
[pree-ok-yuh-pahy] 
| Main Entry: |
preoccupy
[pree-ok-yuh-pahy]
|
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | absorb |
| Synonyms: | assimilate, comprehend, consume, digest, engross, follow, get into, get*, grasp, immerse, incorporate, latch onto, learn, monopolize, sense, soak up, take in, understand |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | consume |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | use up |
| Synonyms: | absorb, apply, avail oneself of, deplete, devour, dissipate, dominate, drain, drivel, eat up, employ, engross, exhaust, expend, finish, finish up, fritter away, frivol away, go, go through, have recourse to, lavish, lessen, monopolize, obsess, preoccupy, profit by, put away, put to use, run out of, run through, spend, squander, throw away, trifle, utilize, vanish, wash up, waste, wear out |
| Antonyms: | accumulate, collect, gather, neglect, not use, store |
| Main Entry: | engage |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | occupy oneself; engross |
| Synonyms: | absorb, allure, arrest, bewitch, busy, captivate, catch, charm, draw, embark on, employ, enamor, enchant, enter into, enthrall, fascinate, give a try, give a whirl, go for broke, go in for, go out for, grip*, have a fling at, have a go at, have a shot at, imbue, immerse, interest, involve, join, keep busy, monopolize, partake, participate, pitch in, practice, preengage, preoccupy, set about, soak, tackle*, take part, tie up, try on for size, undertake |
| Antonyms: | decline, refuse, reject, shun |
* = informal/non-formal usage
| Main Entry: | engross |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | hold one's attention |
| Synonyms: | absorb, apply, arrest, assimilate, attract, be hung, become lost, bewitch, busy, captivate, consume, corner, engage, engulf, enrapture, enthrall, fascinate, fill, grip, hog, immerse, involve, monopolize, occupy, preoccupy, sew up, soak, take up, up on |
| Antonyms: | forget, ignore, reject, repulse, turn off |
| Main Entry: | enthrall |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | captivate |
| Synonyms: | absorb, beguile, bewitch, charm, enchant, engage, enrapture, enslave, entrance, fascinate, grab, grip, hold spellbound, hook, hypnotize, intrigue, mesmerize, preoccupy, rivet, spellbind, subdue, subject, subjugate |
| Antonyms: | bore, dull, tire, turn off, weary |
| Main Entry: | exercise |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | upset, worry |
| Synonyms: | abrade, afflict, agitate, annoy, bother, burden, chafe, distress, disturb, gall, irk, occupy, pain, perturb, preoccupy, provoke, trouble, try, vex |
| Main Entry: | involve |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | draw in; include |
| Synonyms: | absorb, affect, argue, associate, bind, catch, commit, complicate, comprehend, comprise, compromise, concern, connect, contain, cover, denote, embrace, embroil, engage, engross, enmesh, entail, entangle, grip, hold, hook, implicate, imply, incorporate, incriminate, inculpate, link, mean, mire, mix up, necessitate, number, point to, preoccupy, presuppose, prove, relate, require, rivet, rope in, snarl up, suggest, take in, tangle, touch, wrap up in |
| Antonyms: | exclude, free, remove |
| Main Entry: | occupy |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | be busy with |
| Synonyms: | absorb, amuse, attend, be active with, be concerned with, busy, divert, employ, engage, engross, entertain, fill, hold attention, immerse, interest, involve, keep busy, monopolize, preoccupy, soak, take up, tie up, utilize |
| Antonyms: | be inactive, be lazy, idle |
| Main Entry: | forestall |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | keep from happening |
| Synonyms: | anticipate, avert, delay, deter, hinder, monopolize, preclude, preoccupy, prevent, thwart |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2012 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2012 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
