Search Result for "preoccupied": 
Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (2)

1. deeply absorbed in thought;
- Example: "as distant and bemused as a professor listening to the prattling of his freshman class"
- Example: "lost in thought"
- Example: "a preoccupied frown"
[syn: bemused, deep in thought(p), lost(p), preoccupied]

2. having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something;
- Example: "became more and more haunted by the stupid riddle"
- Example: "was absolutely obsessed with the girl"
- Example: "got no help from his wife who was preoccupied with the children"
- Example: "he was taken up in worry for the old woman"
[syn: haunted, obsessed, preoccupied, taken up(p)]



The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Preoccupy \Pre*oc"cu*py\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Preoccupied
   (-p[imac]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Preoccupying.] [Cf. F.
   pr['e]occuper. See Preoccupate, Occupy.]
   1. To take possession of before another; as, to preoccupy a
      country not before held.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To prepossess; to engage, occupy, or engross the attention
      of, beforehand; hence, to prejudice.
      [1913 Webster]

            I Think it more respectful to the reader to leave
            something to reflections than to preoccupy his
            judgment.                             --Arbuthnot.
      [1913 Webster]


WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

preoccupied
    adj 1: deeply absorbed in thought; "as distant and bemused as a
           professor listening to the prattling of his freshman
           class"; "lost in thought"; "a preoccupied frown" [syn:
           bemused, deep in thought(p), lost(p),
           preoccupied]
    2: having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with
       something; "became more and more haunted by the stupid
       riddle"; "was absolutely obsessed with the girl"; "got no
       help from his wife who was preoccupied with the children";
       "he was taken up in worry for the old woman" [syn: haunted,
       obsessed, preoccupied, taken up(p)]