preoccupied

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet Americans seem to have gotten less worried about nuclear weapons since the Cold War: A Pew poll last year found a public preoccupied by terrorism, climate change, pandemics, and other issues.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2026

With its opulent Beverly Hills mansions, sports cars around every corner, plastic surgeons aplenty and a culture and economy steeped in entertainment, this city has long seemed preoccupied with surface appearances.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 26, 2026

While her classmates were preoccupied with exams, the May ball and where to spend their summers, Franks was worried about making her rent.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

In Kramer’s film, Juliette Lewis plays Camille, an absurdly chic yet financially strapped woman preoccupied with keeping up appearances for no reason other than that it’s what’s expected of her.

From Salon • Feb. 18, 2026

Out on the patio, the visiting relatives have left, and only the compound folks remain, talking in low, preoccupied voices.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez