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

Example sentences from the Web for reoccupy

British Dictionary definitions for reoccupy (1 of 2)

reoccupy
/ (riːˈɒkjʊˌpaɪ) /

verb -pies, -pying or -pied (tr)

to occupy (a building, area, etc) again

Derived forms of reoccupy

reoccupation, noun

British Dictionary definitions for reoccupy (2 of 2)

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