we are occupied

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'we are occupied' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that you are busy or preoccupied with something. For example: We are occupied with planning our vacation right now, so can we talk about this later?.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

While we are occupied with freeing the Iraqis, most of whom do not view us as liberators, we are quite likely missing the next major attack on our own soil.

The New York Times

"We do not want war with Russia at the present time when we are occupied with China, but we have at our disposal on the Manchukuoan frontier the necessary forces to face any eventuality".

The New York Times

We're all recovering from our own demons -- whether we are occupied by violence or the market, or racism or hatred.

Huffington Post

We want peace there is something that we are occupied with: growing wheat, building and inventing, writing books and flying into space.

Wikipedia

It stands to reason that while we are occupied with looking intently at ourselves and our wants, it's unlikely that we can connect to something other than ourselves -- yet that is the specific task of one who comes to seek the higher planes -- and the reason that it takes so much time and effort.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

We are occupying.

The Guardian - Opinion

And far from leaving the centre ground, we are occupying it.

The Guardian

We are occupying the roof of Tory HQ to show we are against the Tory system of attacking the poor and helping the rich.

The Guardian

"The Czechs still seem to think we are occupying them, and I am hoping that this visit will help change that," he said.

The New York Times

"We are occupying the bridge because the bill would be bad for the NHS, bad for patients and bad for society".

The Guardian

We are occupying this council chamber in order to open that space, to start that dialogue and to make our voices heard".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we are occupied", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean 'busy', 'under control', or 'physically occupying a space' to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "we are occupied" when you actually mean 'we are interested'. "Occupied" implies busyness or physical presence, not interest.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we are occupied" functions as a declarative statement, expressing a current state of being. It indicates that the subject (we) is either busy, controlled, or physically present in a space. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we are occupied" is grammatically sound and conveys a state of being either busy, controlled, or physically present. Ludwig's analysis confirms its validity and provides diverse examples of its usage across news, wiki, academic, and scientific contexts. While uncommon, its meaning is clear and applicable in various situations. When using this phrase, consider if alternatives such as "we are busy" or "we are engaged" might be more precise depending on your intended meaning. Use this phrase carefully to avoid any ambiguity. It's essential to ensure your audience understands the specific sense of "occupied" you intend to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are busy

Emphasizes the state of being actively engaged or busy with tasks.

we are engaged

Highlights involvement or participation in an activity or situation.

we are engrossed

Indicates a state of being deeply absorbed or preoccupied with something.

we are under control

Focuses on the state of being dominated or managed by an external force.

we are stationed

Highlights the act of being positioned or assigned to a specific location.

we are present

Indicates a state of physical presence or attendance.

we are active

Suggests a state of being involved and participating in certain activities.

we are involved

Implies participation or engagement in an activity or situation.

we are tied up

Indicates a situation where one is busy and unable to attend to other matters.

we are currently operating

Focuses on the act of actively functioning or conducting business.

FAQs

What does "we are occupied" mean?

The phrase "we are occupied" generally means that a group is either busy with tasks, being controlled by an external force, or physically inhabiting a space.

What can I say instead of "we are occupied" when referring to being busy?

If you mean busy, you can use alternatives like "we are busy", "we are engaged", or "we are engrossed" depending on the context.

How do I use "we are occupied" in a sentence?

You can use "we are occupied" to explain that your group is busy with some works, or being dominated by other country e.g. "We are occupied with planning our vacation right now, so can we talk about this later?" or "We were occupied by Allied forces, and there was a lot of crime."

Is "we are occupying" different from "we are occupied"?

Yes, "we are occupying" implies actively taking control of or inhabiting a space, while "we are occupied" usually means being busy or being under the control of another entity.