occupy

1. (transitive) To take or use.
2. (transitive) To take or use.
3. (transitive) To take or use.
4. (transitive) To take or use.
5. (transitive) To take or use space.
6. (transitive) To take or use space.
7. (transitive) To take or use space.
8. (transitive) To take or use space.
9. (obsolete, transitive) To have sexual intercourse with.
10. (obsolete) To do business in; to busy oneself with.
11. (obsolete) To use; to expend; to make use of.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɒkjʊpaɪ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: occupien

In summary

From Middle English occupien, occupyen, borrowed from Old French occuper, from Latin occupāre (“to take possession of, seize, occupy, take up, employ”), from ob (“to, on”) + capiō (“to take”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂p- (“to seize, grab”). Doublet of occupate, now obsolete.

Synonyms

hold

take

capture

take up

possess

inhabit

seize

fill

reside

engage

invade

absorb

conquer

engross

employ

live

take possession of

busy

concern

own

populate

live in

dwell

usurp

take possession

settle

overrun

have

grip

fill up

interest

take hold of

room

abide

rule

squat

use up

place

move

involve

lodge

catch

hunt

hijack

grab

carry

grasp

remain

resort

receive