I was occupied with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was occupied with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you were working on or engaged in certain activity. For example, "I was occupied with my schoolwork late into the night."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The producer Walter Mirisch, for example, said, "During the time of his films, I was occupied with my own".

The New York Times

I was occupied with our two young boys Roman [five] and Gio [seven] and very pregnant with Sofia.

Independent

To be fair, though, I was occupied with the other 28 half-broken things in my house that require constant ignoring.

The New York Times

So the following days consisted of us talking on my hotel phone in the evenings after I had secretly gone sightseeing all day — while he believed I was occupied with work.

The New York Times

If I didn't follow the horrors in Munich, in 1972, it wasn't just because I was too young to understand but because I was occupied with worshipping Lasse Virén, the bearded Finnish policeman who won both the five thousand and the ten thousand metres on the track.

The New Yorker

It was a small but substantial "Eureka" moment: I'd been playing Zelda for a couple hours like I'd play a normal console game, and I was vacillating between going to bed and finishing whatever task I was occupied with in the game.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Because our house is so small it means that the bedroom I was occupying with my office has to be converted into Christopher II's bedroom and Christopher II's old room is going to serve as Christopher III's new room.

Vice

In reality, it is occupied with issues closer to home.

The Economist

"My mind was occupied with how I am going to achieve the mission, get my men home safely, and advance America's interest.

The New York Times

I used to pitch a tent in the living room where I was occupied "finding myself" with Nietzsche instead of watching cartoons, which is just what you get when you deny your kid TV, I guess.

Vice

One parent stated "I could focus on the other children whilst she was occupied with the call".

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was occupied with" to clearly state that you were actively engaged in a task or activity, providing context for why you may not have been available or attentive to other matters. For example: "I was occupied with finalizing the report and couldn't answer the phone."

Common error

While grammatically correct, excessive use of the passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider rephrasing to emphasize your active involvement: instead of "I was occupied with the project," try "I focused on the project," which creates a stronger, more direct tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was occupied with" functions as a verb phrase indicating a state of being engaged or involved in a particular activity or task. As noted by Ludwig, it is a grammatically correct way to express being busy.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was occupied with" is a grammatically correct and useful way to express that you were engaged in a particular task or activity, according to Ludwig. Though the phrase appears with relatively low frequency, it's suitable for neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedic, and scientific writing. Remember to consider whether a more active phrasing might strengthen your writing and avoid overusing the passive voice. This phrase is best used when providing context or justification for one's focus or actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was engaged in

Focuses more on the action of participating, emphasizing involvement in a specific activity.

I was involved in

Highlights participation in something, often implying a deeper level of commitment or responsibility.

I was busy with

A simpler and more direct way to express being occupied, suitable for informal contexts.

I was preoccupied with

Emphasizes that one's thoughts were mainly focused on something, sometimes implying distraction from other things.

I was engrossed in

Suggests complete immersion and absorption in an activity, indicating deep engagement.

I was absorbed in

Similar to 'engrossed in', but can also imply a passive state of being completely taken up by something.

I was consumed by

Indicates that something took up a significant amount of one's time and energy, often implying a sense of being overwhelmed.

My time was taken up by

A more formal way of saying that one's schedule was filled with something.

I devoted my time to

Highlights the conscious decision to allocate time and effort to something.

I dedicated myself to

Implies a strong commitment and focused effort towards a particular goal or activity.

FAQs

How can I use "I was occupied with" in a sentence?

You can use "I was occupied with" to describe being busy or engaged in a task. For example, "I was occupied with work and couldn't attend the meeting."

What are some alternatives to "I was occupied with"?

Alternatives include "I was busy with", "I was engaged in", or "I was involved in", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "I am occupied with" or should it always be "I was occupied with"?

"I am occupied with" indicates a present state of being busy, while "I was occupied with" refers to a past state. Both are correct, depending on the timeframe you're referencing.

What's the difference between "I was occupied with" and "I was preoccupied with"?

"I was occupied with" generally means being busy with a task. "I was preoccupied with" suggests your thoughts were consumed by something, potentially to the point of distraction. The former is about doing, the latter is about thinking.