kept occupied

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "kept occupied" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone is kept busy by performing some activity or task. For example: The toddlers were kept occupied with puzzles while their parents had dinner in the other room.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

She is easily distracted and always needs to be kept occupied, or she can become disruptive.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But she was kept occupied, she said, with an onslaught of fast-paced, no-time-to-breathe-in-between obstacles.

The New York Times - Sports

The emergency medical services were kept occupied, as the effects of altitude kicked in on unaccustomed pilgrims from the city.

The Guardian - Travel

His father, a lawyer by profession and therefore a man well versed in the art of interpreting rules to suit his case, felt that his son should be kept occupied, given responsibility, given no space in which to feel discontented.

The Guardian - Film

He kept moving, kept occupied, and kept in motion.

TechCrunch

Like most Khampa boys, Yidam knew how to use a gun, but being a monk he was not required to fight, and kept occupied tending to the horses and yaks.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Keep occupied.

WikiHow

That, combined with an ankle she sprained on May 9, kept her occupied in her protracted warm-up.

The New York Times - Sports

A handful of made-for-television films kept her occupied - Witness for the Prosecution (1982), Reunion at Fairborough (1985) and Hold the Dawn (1986) among them.

The Guardian - Film

She doesn't have much to do, now that her husband has gone on to his glory, and she no longer offers the piano lessons that kept her occupied for a time.

The New Yorker

"That's nothing that ever interested me". Instead, traveling to see festivals like Desert Trip has kept her occupied, and happy, since her children left home; she is a retired homemaker.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "kept occupied" to clearly indicate that someone or something was actively engaged or busy with a specific task or activity. This phrase emphasizes a state of sustained engagement, making it suitable for describing situations where maintaining activity is important.

Common error

Avoid using "kept occupied" when you mean a momentary distraction. "Kept occupied" implies a sustained period of engagement, not a fleeting moment of busyness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "kept occupied" functions as a passive verb phrase. It describes a state where someone or something is maintained in a condition of busyness or engagement by an external factor. Ludwig AI analysis suggests it's a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

14%

Science

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "kept occupied" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone or something being actively engaged. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts, signifying a neutral register. To ensure proper use, remember that "kept occupied" implies a sustained period of engagement. Consider using alternatives like "remained busy" or "stayed engaged" depending on the specific context you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained busy

Highlights the act of maintaining a state of busyness, stressing the continuation of activity.

stayed busy

Focuses on maintaining a state of busyness, often with various activities.

remained engaged

Emphasizes continuous engagement rather than just being busy; implies active involvement.

stayed engaged

Focuses more on sustained involvement than just being active.

were engaged

Highlights the state of being involved or busy in a passive way.

had enough to do

Expresses having sufficient tasks or activities, implying satisfaction with the level of occupation.

found plenty to do

Emphasizes the discovery of activities to keep oneself busy, suggesting initiative.

were entertained

Suggests that enjoyment is a primary aspect of the activity occupying someone.

were busied

A more formal or archaic way of saying 'were made busy'.

were active

Focuses on the state of being physically or mentally active, not just busy.

FAQs

How can I use "kept occupied" in a sentence?

You can use "kept occupied" to describe someone who was actively engaged with an activity, like "The children were "kept occupied" with puzzles during the long car ride".

What's a good alternative to "kept occupied"?

Depending on the context, you might use phrases like "remained busy", "stayed engaged", or "were entertained" instead of "kept occupied".

Is it better to say "kept busy" or "kept occupied"?

"Kept busy" and "kept occupied" are similar, but "kept occupied" often suggests a more focused or purposeful engagement, while "kept busy" can simply mean being active without a specific focus.

How does "kept occupied" differ from "remained active"?

"Kept occupied" implies that someone was engaged in a specific task or activity, whereas "remained active" suggests a more general state of physical or mental activity without necessarily focusing on a particular task.