largely preoccupied with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "largely preoccupied with" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that is mainly focused or absorbed in a particular subject or activity. Example: "The researcher was largely preoccupied with the implications of climate change on biodiversity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Modern conflict analysis remains largely preoccupied with abstract models of the emergence of social institutions.

The New York Times

As currently construed, healthcare is largely preoccupied with controlling late-stage biological perturbations that are end results of lengthy causal chains dominated by behavioral and social determinants.

The Health of Populations Beyond Medicine

As Enright gamely admits in her introduction, her earlier stories were largely preoccupied with the "woes of middle age" - problems, she now says, she got mostly "wrong".

Independent

In some crowds the participants are largely preoccupied with themselves or with one another, and with participation in a common experience.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even the Star-Spangled Banner, though largely preoccupied with the frenzy of the battlefield, makes room for the dawn and the twilight, the shore and the deep.

The Guardian - Music

And he is, unlike many fellow Russian writers whose fiction is largely preoccupied with the trauma of the Soviet past, not in flight from present difficulties.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

On the basis of the artworks in this show, it seems that Lichtenstein was largely preoccupied during his final decades with two themes: interiors and nudes.

The New York Times

Her characters are largely preoccupied, on the surface at least, with five things: sex, running, God, illness and infidelity, not necessarily in that order.

The New York Times - Books

At that stage Scholes generally played as a No10, so the central-midfield role into which he was pushed was a little unusual, and a reflection of United's sudden aggression after a game in which they had largely been preoccupied with containment.

The Guardian - Sport

Thereafter, Chiang and Stilwell were largely preoccupied by efforts to check the Japanese advance into Burma.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was a clear declaration of war, but Nikephoros' forces were largely preoccupied in the East.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "largely preoccupied with" when you want to indicate that someone or something is mainly concerned or focused on a particular subject, activity, or aspect. It suggests a dominant but not necessarily exclusive focus.

Common error

Avoid using "largely preoccupied with" when the subject's focus is total or exclusive. The phrase implies a primary but not absolute concentration; for total absorption, consider stronger terms like "completely engrossed" or "entirely focused".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "largely preoccupied with" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being primarily focused or absorbed in something. Ludwig provides examples from various contexts to illustrate this function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "largely preoccupied with" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, functioning as an adjectival phrase that indicates a state of being mainly focused or absorbed in a particular subject or activity. Ludwig's examples show its usage across diverse sources like news outlets, encyclopedias, and scientific publications, indicating a neutral to formal register. While not the most common phrase, it's valuable for accurately conveying a primary, though not exclusive, focus. Alternatives include "mainly concerned with" or "primarily focused on". Be mindful of not overstating the degree of focus when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mainly concerned with

Focuses on concern as the primary driver, implying a degree of worry or responsibility, unlike the more neutral "preoccupied".

primarily focused on

Emphasizes focus as the core element, suggesting a deliberate direction of attention rather than an involuntary preoccupation.

chiefly absorbed in

Highlights a state of deep immersion, implying a loss of awareness of surroundings to a greater extent than "preoccupied".

mostly engrossed in

Similar to 'absorbed', but suggests a more captivating or fascinating subject matter that holds the attention.

significantly engaged with

Indicates a level of active participation or involvement, unlike the more passive connotation of "preoccupied".

heavily invested in

Implies a commitment of resources (time, energy, emotion) to a greater extent than "preoccupied" suggests.

deeply immersed in

Emphasizes the depth of involvement, signifying a comprehensive and thorough engagement that surpasses a general preoccupation.

intensely concentrated on

Stresses a directed mental effort to a greater extent than "preoccupied", suggesting a need for focus.

greatly taken up with

Suggests that something external is consuming a significant amount of time or attention.

particularly fixated on

Implies an obsessive quality to the focus, which is not necessarily present in "preoccupied".

FAQs

How can I use "largely preoccupied with" in a sentence?

You can use "largely preoccupied with" to indicate that someone or something is mainly focused or absorbed in a particular subject or activity. For instance, "The researcher was "largely preoccupied with" the implications of climate change on biodiversity".

What are some alternatives to "largely preoccupied with"?

Alternatives include "mainly concerned with", "primarily focused on", or "chiefly absorbed in", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "largely preoccupied by" instead of "largely preoccupied with"?

While "preoccupied by" is grammatically correct, "largely preoccupied with" is more commonly used to describe a focus on a specific subject or activity. "Preoccupied by" typically suggests being troubled or disturbed by something, whereas "preoccupied with" implies a state of absorption in something.

What's the difference between "preoccupied with" and "obsessed with"?

"Preoccupied with" suggests a primary focus or absorption, while "obsessed with" indicates a more intense and potentially irrational fixation. Being "preoccupied with" something is a less extreme state than being "obsessed with" it.