occupy
[ ok-yuh-pahy ]
/ ˈɒk yəˌpaɪ /
verb (used with object), oc·cu·pied, oc·cu·py·ing.
verb (used without object), oc·cu·pied, oc·cu·py·ing.
to take or hold possession.
(usually initial capital letter)
to participate in a protest about a social or political issue.
adjective
(usually initial capital letter)
of or relating to a protest about a social or political issue, as in Occupy movement; Occupy protest; Occupy candidate: the Occupy movement for social justice.
Origin of occupy
1300–50; Middle English
occupien < Middle French
occuper < Latin
occupāre to seize, take hold, take up, make one's own, equivalent to
oc-
oc- +
-cup-, combining form of
capere to take, seize +
-āre infinitive suffix
synonym study for occupy
1, 3–5. See
have.
OTHER WORDS FROM occupy
Words nearby occupy
Example sentences from the Web for occupying
British Dictionary definitions for occupying
occupy
/ (ˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ) /
verb -pies, -pying or -pied (tr)
to live or be established in (a house, flat, office, etc)
(often passive)
to keep (a person) busy or engrossed; engage the attention of
(often passive)
to take up (a certain amount of time or space)
to take and hold possession of, esp as a demonstration
students occupied the college buildings
to fill or hold (a position or rank)
Word Origin for occupy
C14: from Old French
occuper, from Latin
occupāre to seize hold of, from
ob- (intensive) +
capere to take