occupy myself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occupy myself" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe activities you do to pass the time or keep busy. For example, "I was getting bored, so I decided to occupy myself by doing a jigsaw puzzle."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

I don't occupy myself with such details".

The New York Times

I was excited, and didn't know how to occupy myself.

The Guardian - Sport

"I'm not going to occupy myself with politics," he said this week.

Independent

When I am not swimming or reading or eating, I occupy myself by hating Donald Trump.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I occupy myself then by cleaning, checking my emails – mostly from IFSW Europe – and try to catch up on work.

The Guardian

Sometimes, in the wee hours of the night, I can't sleep and I don't want to read, so I occupy myself by rearranging my home screen.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

"I have occupied myself in other ways," said Klein.

The Guardian

I knew that I could have happily occupied myself there for several hours, but he seemed eager to move on.

The New Yorker

But I quickly occupied myself with lunch; another theme of the kitchen, but from a more comfortable perspective.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In her book on war criminals in the Hague (They Would Never Hurt A Fly), Slavenka Drakulic writes that "the more I have occupied myself with the individual cases of war criminals, the less I believe them to be monsters".

The Guardian

In 2004, while waiting for my novel about Henry James, Author, Author, to come out, I occupied myself by writing the introduction to a Penguin Classics edition of HG Wells's novel Kipps.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "occupy myself" when you want to emphasize that you are actively engaging in something to avoid boredom or to make productive use of your time. For example, "During the long flight, I decided to "occupy myself" by reading a book."

Common error

Don't use "occupy myself" if the activity is purely passive or requires little to no effort. For example, instead of saying "I "occupy myself" by watching TV", consider "I pass the time by watching TV" or "I entertain myself by watching TV".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "occupy myself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase. It indicates that the subject (I) is performing an action (occupying) on themself. Ludwig examples show it's frequently used to describe actions taken to avoid boredom or utilize time effectively, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Lifestyle

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "occupy myself" is a grammatically sound and relatively common reflexive verb phrase used to describe engaging in activities to pass time or avoid boredom. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's found most frequently in News & Media and Lifestyle contexts. Related phrases include "keep myself busy" and "entertain myself". When using "occupy myself", ensure the activity involves active engagement rather than passive consumption. Remember that in the past form the correct phrase is "occupied myself".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

busy myself

A more concise and direct way of saying occupy myself, but less common.

keep myself busy

Focuses on avoiding idleness, emphasizing active engagement.

entertain myself

Emphasizes enjoyment and amusement during the activity.

amuse myself

Similar to entertain myself, but can imply a lighter, less involved activity.

distract myself

Highlights the intention of diverting attention from something unpleasant.

fill my time

Focuses on using available time, often when there is an abundance.

immerse myself

Suggests deep involvement and absorption in an activity.

get involved in

Implies actively participating or engaging in something.

find things to do

A broader phrase indicating the search for activities.

take up a hobby

Implies starting a new, regular activity for leisure.

FAQs

What does "occupy myself" mean?

The phrase "occupy myself" means to keep yourself busy or engaged in an activity, often to avoid boredom or make productive use of time.

How can I use "occupy myself" in a sentence?

You can use "occupy myself" to describe how you spend your time, such as, "I "occupy myself" with gardening on the weekends."

What are some alternatives to "occupy myself"?

Some alternatives include "keep myself busy", "entertain myself", or "amuse myself", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "occupied myself" instead of "occupy myself"?

Yes, "occupied myself" is the past tense form of "occupy myself" and is used to describe something you did in the past to keep busy. For example, "I "occupied myself" with cleaning while waiting for the guests to arrive."