occupied my time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occupied my time" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe activities or tasks that have taken up your time or attention. Example: "During the summer, reading novels and gardening occupied my time, keeping me busy and entertained."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"I was becoming better and better, so that occupied my time".

The New York Times - Sports

That occupied my time by 1978, at which point I was already in the Washington area working for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency DARPAA).

Forbes

There was only one problem: Throughout high school, I had occupied my time with petty vandalism and smoking sessions in the woods.

Vice

I occupied my time analyzing the election results, writing a memo on what happened and where I thought we should go next, and keeping in touch with group leaders and donors and other democratic activists I was close to.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"But I occupy my time doing something positive".

The New York Times

"I have never since then had to be concerned about how to occupy my time," she wrote in her memoir.

The New York Times - Food

Each one chose a different approach and set of activities that would occupy my time as a fellow.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"At that point, I was either going to fix the arm or find something else to occupy my time".

The New York Times - Sports

And that was it, really: I decided that was how I was going to occupy my time.

The Guardian - Books

Tommy Winfrey, 36, sentenced to 25 years to life for second degree murder, said as he grew up in prison he has discovered a "few ways to occupy my time".

Independent

And while progress in developing expert systems, narrow artificial intelligences and the like will doubtless continue, I welcome – with 20 or so years left in my career – the decision support that AI will provide, rather than worrying about how I'll occupy my time after the Singularity – the predicted era when computers match human intelligence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "occupied my time" to clearly indicate that specific activities or tasks filled your schedule. For example, "Learning a new language and volunteering occupied my time during my sabbatical."

Common error

While "occupied my time" is generally acceptable, avoid overuse in highly formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated synonyms like "consumed my time" or "engaged my attention" to enhance the writing's impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "occupied my time" functions as a verb phrase indicating how one's time was spent. It highlights that certain activities filled the available time, providing a reason for absence or a description of personal engagement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "occupied my time" is a grammatically sound and usable expression for describing how one spent their time. Ludwig AI confirms this. Although it can be used in various contexts, it is especially prevalent in news and media. For more formal settings, alternatives like "consumed my time" or "engaged my attention" may be preferable. While the phrase is effective in conveying how time was spent, overuse should be avoided to maintain writing impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

filled my time

Replaces "occupied" with "filled", suggesting a state of being full or busy.

took up my time

Uses "took up" instead of "occupied", emphasizing the consumption of time.

filled my hours

Similar to "filled my time" but specifies a duration.

consumed my time

Emphasizes the complete use of time, often implying an engulfing sense.

engaged my time

Highlights active involvement and attention.

absorbed my time

Similar to 'consumed', suggesting a deep and immersive engagement.

dominated my time

Implies that something took precedence and controlled time allocation.

took over my schedule

Indicates that something has significantly altered how time is spent.

kept me busy

Focuses on the state of being active and not idle.

engrossed my attention

Stresses the captivation of attention over an extended duration.

FAQs

How can I use "occupied my time" in a sentence?

You can use "occupied my time" to describe how you spent your time, for example: "Reading and gardening "filled my time" during the summer."

What are some alternatives to "occupied my time"?

Alternatives include "filled my time", "took up my time", or "consumed my time", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "occupied my time" or "filled my time"?

Both phrases are correct, but "filled my time" might sound slightly more natural in everyday conversation. "Occupied my time" can sometimes be perceived as slightly more formal or emphatic.

Can "occupied my time" imply busyness or just time spent?

"Occupied my time" usually implies that you were engaged in activities or tasks that kept you busy, rather than simply stating that time passed.