What is occupied? Pronunciation and usage in English

occupied means . Learn how to pronounce and use occupied through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of occupied

occupiedadjective

/ˈɒkjʊpʌɪd/
Definition & pronunciation of occupied

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "occupied." It's a tricky one for many English learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and generally accepted pronunciation is:

  • /əˈkʊptɪd/

Let's break that down syllable by syllable:

  1. əˈkʊp- (First syllable)

    • ə – This is a very short, unstressed "uh" sound. Think of it like the "a" in "about" but even shorter.
    • kʊp – This sounds like "coop," as in a chicken coop. The "u" is a short "oo" sound, like in "book."

  2. -tɪd (Second syllable)

    • tɪ – This is a short "ih" sound, like in "bit."
    • d – A simple "d" sound.

Putting it all together, it sounds like: "uh-KOOP-tid"

Tips for getting it right:

  • Stress: The stress is on the second syllable ("KOOP"). That's the most important thing to get right.
  • Listen to examples: This is crucial. The best way to learn is by hearing it. Here are some good audio examples:

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation slowly?
  • Give you a sentence example using the word?

Usage and examples with the word occupied in English

Let's break down how to use the word "occupied" in English. It's a versatile word with several different meanings and uses. Here's a breakdown by category:

1. Describing a Place (Most Common Use)

  • Meaning: Being used or taken up; not vacant or free. It means something is in use or has someone/something in it.
  • Examples:
    • "The hotel was fully occupied last night." (The rooms were all taken.)
    • "The road is occupied by a construction crew." (Construction workers are using the road.)
    • "The booth was occupied by a family." (Someone was sitting in the booth.)
    • "Parking is occupied on both sides of the street." (All the parking spaces are taken.)

2. Describing a Person (Less Common, More Formal)

  • Meaning: Being in a particular role, position, or state.
  • Examples:
    • “The president is occupied with important meetings.” (Busy with work)
    • “The admiral was occupied with planning the next operation.” (Engaged in a specific task)
    • “The doctor is occupied with a difficult surgery.” (Focused on a serious task)

3. Describing a Mind or Attention (Figurative)

  • Meaning: Being preoccupied; having one’s thoughts taken up by something else.
  • Examples:
    • “He was occupied with his own thoughts and didn’t notice the rain.” (He wasn't paying attention.)
    • "Don't let your mind be occupied by worries." (Stop thinking about problems.)
    • "She was occupied with trying to solve the puzzle." (Her focus was on the puzzle)

4. Military/Political Context (Specifically about territory)

  • Meaning: Under control of an army or government; not free from military presence.
  • Examples:
    • “The territory was occupied by enemy forces.” (The area was held by the enemy)
    • “The city remains occupied despite recent negotiations.” (The city is still under control of the occupying force)

Key Differences and Synonyms

  • Occupied vs. Reserved: "Reserved" means that something is set aside for a specific purpose (like a table reservation). "Occupied" means it’s in use.
  • Occupied vs. Full: "Full" usually refers to capacity (e.g., a full bus). "Occupied" refers to who or what is using the space.

Here's a table summarizing the different uses:

Category Meaning Example
Place Being used/taken up The restaurant is occupied.
Person In a role or task The CEO is occupied with strategy.
Mind/Attention Preoccupied, focused on something else He was occupied with his thoughts.
Military/Political Under control of an army/government The island was occupied by the invaders.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you trying to use "occupied" in? (e.g., describing a room, a situation, a person's mental state?)

Synonyms for the word occupied

Practice with vocabulary occupied

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The main server room was __________ for emergency maintenance, causing a temporary network outage.
  2. Since the early 20th century, this historic building has been __________ by various government agencies.
  3. I'm quite __________ with urgent client requests right now; can we discuss this later?
  4. Our flight tickets were __________ months in advance to ensure we got good seats for the conference.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The CEO's calendar is completely ______, making it difficult to schedule an impromptu meeting this week. A) empty B) available C) filled D) occupied E) clear

  2. If a commercial property has been __________ by a tenant for over a decade, it often indicates a stable business. A) abandoned B) vacated C) rented D) occupied

  3. When a researcher is deeply __________ with a complex statistical analysis, they might not notice minor interruptions. A) distracted B) engaged C) bothered D) occupied E) busy

  4. Before heading to the popular restaurant, we made sure our table was __________ to avoid a long wait. A) prepared B) reserved C) ordered D) claimed

  5. Her entire career has been __________ to improving educational outcomes for underprivileged children, showing immense commitment. A) neglected B) occupied C) dedicated D) spent

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: The old factory building was empty for years, but now a tech startup is using it. Rewrite (using "occupied" or related word forms):

  2. Original: John was so absorbed in his research that he forgot about the time and missed his lunch break. Rewrite (using "occupied" or related word forms):

  3. Original: The meeting room is currently unavailable for any unscheduled discussions. Rewrite (do not use "occupied", but use a suitable replacement word):

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. occupied
  2. occupied
  3. engaged
  4. reserved

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. C) filled, D) occupied
  2. C) rented, D) occupied
  3. B) engaged, D) occupied, E) busy
  4. B) reserved
  5. C) dedicated

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. The old factory building, which was empty for years, is now occupied by a tech startup.
  2. John was so occupied with his research that he forgot about the time and missed his lunch break.
  3. The meeting room is currently taken for any unscheduled discussions.

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