occupy yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "occupy yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone to engage in an activity or keep themselves busy. Example: "If you're feeling bored, you should find a hobby to occupy yourself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Please feel free to occupy yourself in the meantime with the actual games.

The New York Times - Sports

The majority of my peers see education as something to occupy yourself with until marriage, a leisure activity.

The Guardian

"I just love the way you can take a couple of math problems, sit down and occupy yourself intellectually for a long time".

The New York Times

Until the World Series starts, you can temporarily occupy yourself with the start of the N.B.A. season and its accompanying story lines, almost all of which revolve around LeBron James.

The New York Times - Sports

Kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and fishing are just some of the ways to occupy yourself during the 24 hours of daylight in midsummer; in winter this Northern Lights-illuminated Lapland forest setting is absolutely magical, with husky dog safaris, snow shoeing, skiing and ice fishing excursions all bookable from the hotel.

Independent

Here are a few cool flash games to help you occupy yourself.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

So it's a way of occupying yourself, so that the ideas have a natural progression instead of being forced.

Los Angeles Times

So then, to make things easier for you, we're providing the following handy starter list of sins you might or might not have occupied yourself with lately, just to get you going.

Huffington Post

Try occupying yourself with another activity.

WikiHow

Try taking your mind off of the hiccups and occupying yourself.

WikiHow

But for the rest of you, gather around children because occupying yourself is great.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When suggesting ways to "occupy yourself", be specific. Instead of just saying "find a hobby", suggest concrete examples like "read a book" or "learn a new language".

Common error

While "occupy yourself" is perfectly acceptable, avoid using it repeatedly in a short span of text. Vary your language by using alternatives like "keep busy" or "find something to do" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

"Occupy yourself" functions as a reflexive verb phrase, where the action of occupying is directed back to the subject. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. It's used to advise or suggest that someone engage in an activity to keep busy or pass the time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Wiki

30%

News & Media

27%

Vice

12%

Less common in

Huffington Post

9%

BBC

6%

Independent

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "occupy yourself" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, employed to suggest engaging in activities to keep busy or pass the time. It's most frequently found in Wiki and News & Media sources, indicating a neutral to informal register. While versatile, varying your language with alternatives like "keep busy" or "entertain oneself" can enhance your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

keep busy

This alternative is a simpler and more direct way of saying the same thing.

entertain oneself

This phrase implies a focus on amusement or enjoyment while passing time.

amuse yourself

Similar to "entertain oneself", but can sometimes imply a solitary activity.

busy oneself

A more formal and slightly archaic way of saying "keep busy" or "occupy yourself".

find an activity

This phrase focuses on the action of seeking something to do.

find something to do

A more general way of expressing the need for an activity to fill time.

fill your time

This alternative emphasizes the act of using time effectively.

kill time

Implies that the activity is primarily to make time pass more quickly, not necessarily for enjoyment or productivity.

distract yourself

This suggests avoiding something unpleasant by focusing on something else.

engage in an activity

A more formal way of suggesting participation in something that holds one's attention.

FAQs

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

You can use "occupy yourself" to suggest finding an activity to do, especially when bored or waiting. For example, "If you're feeling bored, try to "occupy yourself" with a good book".

What's a simple way to say "occupy yourself"?

A simple alternative to "occupy yourself" is to "keep busy". It conveys the same meaning of engaging in activities to avoid boredom.

Is there a more formal way to say "occupy yourself"?

While "occupy yourself" is already fairly neutral, you could use "busy oneself" in more formal contexts. However, this phrasing is less common.

What's the difference between "occupy yourself" and "distract yourself"?

"Occupy yourself" generally refers to finding any activity to fill time, while "distract yourself" implies diverting your attention from something unpleasant or unwanted.