occupied with work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occupied with work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain that someone is busy with work or has a lot of work to do. For example: "John has been so occupied with work lately that he hasn't had the time to go out and relax."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

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

Bangalter was occupied with work on Tron: Legacy and had to decline.

Wikipedia

Stamper was fully occupied with work for Ziegfeld until 1927, when Gene Buck hired Stamper to write the music for Take The Air (1927).

Wikipedia

Notes were recorded from the participants too occupied with work to give audio-recorded interviews.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Both community members and health workers typified the group of busy mothers occupied with work and studies to often avoid breastfeeding [DP1-4].

BMC Health Services Research

Estimate how much time you're spending at work or occupied with work when you're not at your workplace.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

So I fell in with the idea and thought, 'Great, I don't even have to think about an album.'" McCartney was occupied with working on Standing Stone in the interim.

Wikipedia

Sometimes, as an artist, you're so egomaniacal that you're often so occupied with your work and working from show to show, that you don't really take the time or call people or go out.

Vice

For the next 16 years, he wrote whenever he wasn't occupied with astronomical work.

The Guardian - Books

By that time he was fully occupied with disarmament work (for which he was to receive the Nobel Prize).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Besides his love for his wife, and for his brother, Drusus, now growing into manhood, he was occupied with important work.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's professional life, use "occupied with work" to convey that they are actively engaged and potentially busy. This phrase is suitable for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "occupied with work" when a more specific description of the work itself would provide greater clarity. For example, instead of saying "She's occupied with work", specify "She's occupied with finalizing the report" if possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "occupied with work" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe a state of being busy or engaged in labor. As stated by Ludwig AI, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

29%

Wiki

29%

Science

21%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

17%

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "occupied with work" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that indicates a state of being busy or engaged in work-related activities. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and offers examples of its usage across various contexts. While not exceedingly frequent, the phrase is commonly found in "News & Media", "Wiki", and scientific contexts. Alternatives such as "busy working" or "engaged in work" can provide similar meanings, but "occupied with work" often adds a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, be sure to consider the specific work being done for added clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

busy working

Focuses on the action of working while being busy.

engaged in work

Emphasizes active involvement in work-related tasks.

involved in work

Highlights being part of or connected to work activities.

preoccupied with work

Suggests that work dominates one's thoughts and attention.

engrossed in work

Implies being deeply absorbed or consumed by work.

tied up with work

Indicates being constrained or limited by work commitments.

consumed by work

Suggests work is all-encompassing and takes up significant time and energy.

absorbed in professional duties

Formally denotes deep involvement in job responsibilities.

laboring diligently

Highlights the effort and dedication in performing work.

at work

A shorter and more direct way to express being busy with work.

FAQs

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

You can use "occupied with work" to indicate that someone is busy or engaged in work-related activities. For example: "He couldn't join us for dinner because he was "occupied with work"."

What are some alternatives to "occupied with work"?

Some alternatives include "busy working", "engaged in work", or "involved in work", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "occupied with work" or "busy with work"?

Both "occupied with work" and "busy with work" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Busy with work" is slightly more common, but "occupied with work" can add a touch of formality.

What does it mean to be "preoccupied with work"?

Being "preoccupied with work" implies that work dominates one's thoughts and attention, possibly to the exclusion of other aspects of life. It suggests a deeper level of engagement than simply being ""occupied with work"".