we were occupied

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were occupied" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is generally used to describe when one or more people are busy with something. For example: "We were occupied all weekend with our new home projects".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Before the 1919 revolution, we were occupied by the British.

The Guardian

"All that we knew has been overwhelmed since we were occupied by the Americans.

The Guardian

"Many people in politics understand that resistance was our right because we were occupied," he said.

The New York Times

We were occupied completely," said Ruta Pazdere, the leader of the Latvian government-sponsored commission that tallied the costs of the 1940 Soviet takeover of Latvia.

The Washington Post

"For us, in our view, when the war ended in Europe, it didn't end in Latvia -- we were occupied," said Ojars Kalnins, a former Latvian ambassador to Washington who directs the government-financed information institute.

The New York Times

"If you talk to old people today, they say we were occupied twice," says Jens Skaarup, a retired sergeant major and volunteer at the Defence Museum in the capital, Ronne.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"This very, very nice homeless man asked us if we were occupying," said Choi. "We had to say no".

The New Yorker

We were a Congress of Racial Equality student group (we called ourselves Core) – Bernie Sanders was our president – and we were occupying the offices of George Beadle, the university's president.

The Guardian - Arts

The point is that while we were occupying university buildings or taking coaches to Grosvenor Square, radical philosophers were refuting positivistic theories of knowledge and demonstrating the importance for social science of experiential and emotional sources of meaning.

The Guardian

"We're occupied every day showing people the flat," Mrs. Norton said.

The New York Times - Arts

"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

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were occupied" when you want to express that a group was under the control of an external force or heavily engaged in an activity, as shown in the provided news articles from Ludwig.

Common error

Avoid using "we were occupied" to describe a situation where your group actively occupies something, such as a building. In such case consider using "we are occupying" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were occupied" functions as a statement describing a past condition or state experienced by a group. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable. It commonly indicates a state of being either under external control or intensely engaged in an activity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were occupied" is grammatically correct and used to describe a past state of either being under control by external forces or being extremely busy with something. According to Ludwig, this expression is most frequently found in news and media sources. Related phrases include "we were under control" or "we were extremely busy". When you want to describe the current action of taking control of something, consider using "we are occupying" instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were extremely busy

Emphasizes the level of activity and engagement.

we were under control

Highlights external influence or domination.

we were engrossed

Focuses on being deeply absorbed in something.

we were preoccupied

Suggests a state of mental absorption.

we were tied up

Indicates being committed and unavailable.

we were commandeered

Highlights a forceful taking over.

we were overwhelmed

Focuses on being overcome by circumstances.

we were administered

Highlights organizational control.

we were possessed

Suggests external influence over internal functions.

we were beset

Conveys facing persistent issues or difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "we were occupied" in a sentence?

Use "we were occupied" to indicate that a group of people was either under external control or extremely busy. For example, "Before the revolution, "we were occupied" by foreign powers" or "We were occupied with preparations for the event all day".

What is the difference between "we were occupied" and "we are occupying"?

"We were occupied" describes a past state of being controlled or busy. "We are occupying" describes a current action of taking control of a space or position.

What are some similar phrases to "we were occupied" that I can use instead?

Alternatives include "we were under control", "we were extremely busy", or "we were engrossed" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "we were occupied"?

It's appropriate when describing a past situation where a group was either under military or political occupation, or when a group was fully engaged or busy with a task or activity.