be occupied with

USAGE SUMMARY

"be occupied with" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to be busy or engaged in a particular activity or task. Example: I cannot meet you for lunch today because I will be occupied with a meeting at work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But he seemed to be occupied with other things.

The New York Times - Books

"And if that happens, we'll all be occupied with the bigger picture".

The New York Times

The next few months will be occupied with the stimulus package.

The New York Times

That is because Carnegie will be occupied with celebrating its 120th anniversary, Mr. Gillinson said.

The New York Times - Arts

The only way to avoid this futile anxiety is to be occupied with something else.

The New York Times

They're just there on the walls glaring at you when you're trying to be occupied with other things.

The New Yorker

Mr. Kovar was said to be occupied with legal matters during a reporter's brief visit and thus unavailable.

The New York Times - Arts

Between three and five unpaid interns scuttle around; mostly, they appear to be occupied with fetching coffee.

The New Yorker

Following, with the necessary SPOILER ALERT, are examples of how Trump could be occupied with fictional drama to prevent him from creating real crises.

The Washington Post

And Comcast would be occupied with its bid for Walt Disney, while NBC would still be busy integrating the Vivendi Universal entertainment properties.

The New York Times

She persuaded him to write his memoirs, is collaborating closely with him on it, and said in Nashville that she would be occupied with the project through 2011.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be occupied with" to clearly indicate that someone or something is actively engaged in a task, activity, or thought process. This phrasing adds a layer of formality and precision to your writing.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "be occupied with" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Opt for simpler alternatives like "be busy with" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be occupied with" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating a state of being busy or engaged in a particular activity. This usage is confirmed by Ludwig, which validates the phrase's grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Academic

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be occupied with" is a grammatically correct and very common way to express engagement or busyness with a task or activity. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from diverse sources. While versatile, it leans towards a neutral to formal register, making it suitable for professional and academic settings. The primary contexts where it's used are News & Media, Science, and Wiki. Remember to consider the formality of your context when choosing between "be occupied with" and simpler alternatives like "be busy with".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be busy with

A more straightforward and general way of saying someone is engaged or has tasks to handle.

be engaged in

Focuses more on active participation or involvement in an activity, rather than simply being busy with it.

be engrossed in

Suggests a deeper level of immersion and absorption in something, often to the exclusion of other things.

be taken up with

Emphasizes the extent to which one's time or attention is consumed by something.

be involved in

Implies participation or contribution to something, often a project or organization.

be immersed in

Indicates a complete surrounding or enveloping by something, often an experience or environment.

be tied up with

Suggests a state of being constrained or unable to do other things due to current obligations.

be preoccupied with

Highlights a state of being mentally absorbed or concerned with something, often to a distracting degree.

devote time to

Indicates allocating time and resources to a particular activity or purpose.

dedicate oneself to

Highlights a commitment or focused effort toward a specific goal or activity.

FAQs

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

The phrase "be occupied with" is used to indicate that someone or something is engaged or busy with a particular activity or task. For example, "She will "be occupied with" meetings all day".

What are some alternatives to "be occupied with"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "be busy with", "be engaged in", or "be involved in" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "be occupied with" formal or informal?

"Be occupied with" is generally considered more formal than phrases like "be busy with". It's suitable for professional or academic writing.

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

"Be occupied with" simply means being busy or engaged in something. "Be preoccupied with", on the other hand, suggests being mentally absorbed or concerned with something, often to the point of distraction.