occupied
occupied — adjective
1. describes a place or region that foreign armed forces have entered and are contr
describes a place or region that foreign armed forces have entered and are controlling against the will of the local people
The soldiers patrolled the streets of the occupied city every night.
collocation: occupied city / occupied territory / occupied zone
Amina's family fled their home when the region became occupied during the war.
Journalists faced strict rules when reporting from the occupied zone.
用法筆記
Frequently used before a noun (attributive position) to describe the status of a place. The opposing term is 'liberated' or 'free.'
常見錯誤
2. describes a seat, room, toilet, or similar space that is currently being used by
describes a seat, room, toilet, or similar space that is currently being used by someone and therefore not available for others
Mei checked every meeting room but all of them were occupied.
pattern: [place] + be + occupied (passive adjective)
The seat next to Diego on the train remained occupied until the last stop.
Kenji knocked on the bathroom door but heard a voice saying it was occupied.
用法筆記
Commonly seen on toilet doors and room-booking systems. The opposite is 'vacant' or 'free.'
常見錯誤
3. having a lot of work to do or giving your full attention to a particular activit
having a lot of work to do or giving your full attention to a particular activity so that you cannot do other things
Sophie was too occupied with preparing dinner to answer the phone.
pattern: occupied with + [noun/gerund]
The children kept themselves occupied by building a fort out of blankets.
collocation: keep + [someone] + occupied
Olu is fully occupied this week — he cannot take on any new projects.
用法筆記
Often followed by 'with' + noun/gerund. 'Fully occupied' and 'otherwise occupied' are common fixed expressions. More formal than 'busy' but less formal than 'engaged.'
常見錯誤
occupied — verb
1. to keep someone's mind, time, or energy fully focused on a task or activity — fo
to keep someone's mind, time, or energy fully focused on a task or activity — for example, when a difficult problem occupies a team of engineers for weeks
The question of how to fix the water pump occupied the engineers for several days.
pattern: [problem/task] + occupy + [person] + for + [time]
Fatima occupied herself by reading novels during the long bus rides to work.
pattern: occupy + [reflexive pronoun] + by + [gerund]
The mystery of the missing painting occupied the detective's mind for months.
用法筆記
Can take a reflexive pronoun ('occupy himself / herself / themselves') followed by 'with' or 'by' + gerund. The resulting state is expressed by the adjective 'occupied' (adj/3).
常見錯誤
2. to fill or take up a particular amount of space or area within a room, building,
to fill or take up a particular amount of space or area within a room, building, or other location
The old wooden dining table occupied most of the kitchen space.
pattern: [object] + occupy + [amount of] + space
A large bookshelf occupies the entire wall opposite the window.
The new machine occupies less floor area than the model it replaced.
- leave
to not take up space intentionally
用法筆記
Common with measurements or fractions of space ('half the room', 'most of the shelf'). The corresponding adjective sense is adj/2 (IN USE).
常見錯誤
3. to take up a particular amount of time, so that the time is filled with a specif
to take up a particular amount of time, so that the time is filled with a specific activity or event
Building the treehouse occupied most of the children's summer break.
pattern: [activity] + occupy + [amount of] + time
The morning meeting occupied the first two hours of the workday.
Wei's piano practice occupied every evening after school.
用法筆記
Distinguish from verb/2 (FILL SPACE) which is about physical space. This sense is about time duration only. Not used with reflexive pronouns.
常見錯誤
4. to move into a place and take control of it by military force or as a form of pr
to move into a place and take control of it by military force or as a form of protest or demonstration
Government troops occupied the airport shortly after the declaration of war.
pattern: [army/group] + occupy + [place] (military)
Students occupied the university administration building to demand better housing.
pattern: [group] + occupy + [place] (protest)
The rebel forces occupied three villages in the northern province last winter.
用法筆記
Stronger than 'enter' or 'arrive at' — implies staying and asserting authority. The corresponding adjective form is adj/1 (UNDER MILITARY CONTROL).
常見錯誤
5. to hold or perform the duties of an official position, job, or role within an or
to hold or perform the duties of an official position, job, or role within an organisation or government
Dr. Wei has occupied the position of department chair since 2018.
collocation: occupy + [a/the] position / post / office
No woman had occupied the role of prime minister in that country before the recent election.
Senator Torres occupied several important posts during her thirty years in government.
用法筆記
More formal than 'have' or 'hold.' Used almost exclusively with nouns like 'position,' 'post,' 'office,' 'role,' or 'seat.'
常見錯誤
6. to live in a building, apartment, or house — either because you own it or becaus
to live in a building, apartment, or house — either because you own it or because you pay rent to the person who does
The Liu family has occupied the same apartment in Taipei for over twenty years.
pattern: occupy + [building/home] (residential)
Only three of the six flats in the old building are currently occupied.
passive: be + occupied (residential status)
The ground floor was occupied by a small bakery run by Maria's uncle.
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'live in' — 'occupy' is slightly more formal and emphasises the legal or official fact of residence. Often used in housing reports and legal contexts.