preoccupyとは 意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• (Received 発音) IPA^(key): /pɹɪˈɒkjupaɪ/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /pɹiˈɑkjupaɪ/

動詞

preoccupy (三人称単数 現在形 preoccupies, 現在分詞 preoccupying, 過去形および過去分詞形 preoccupied)

1. (transitive) To distract; to draw attention elsewhere. [from 16th c.]

   The father tried to preoccupy the child with his keys.

   • 1962 October, “Talking of Trains: Passed to you, Mr. Macmillan”, in Modern Railways, page 220:

     Dr. Beeching's obvious intent is that if Scottish—and similarly unprofitable English and Welsh—railways are to be maintained, it must be done by an unconcealed subsidy; he is determined that the railways shall no longer be preoccupied with—and derided for—immense deficits which include the burden of social services the State must openly underwrite, if it wants them.

2. (transitive) To worry or concern (someone) so as to distract them.

   It always preoccupies me when he acts like this.

3. (transitive, obsolete) To occupy or take possession of beforehand. [16th–19th c.]
   • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, chapter 91, in The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume III, London: Harrison and Co., […], published 1781, OCLC 316121541:

     Terrified at this uproar, […] she ran for shelter into the place which was pre-occupied by the other lady […] .

関連する語

• preoccupation