The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - occupyv.

1) capture, seize, take possession of, conquer, invade, take over, overrun, garrison, dominate, hold: Rebel forces had occupied the capital and toppled the governor. 2) live or reside or dwell in, tenant, be established or ensconced or situated in, establish or ensconce or situate oneself in, inhabit, be settled in or into, settle in or into, take up residence in, make one's home in, move in or into; be located in: She occupies a luxurious flat in Belgravia. 3) engage, busy, absorb, monopolize, hold, take up or over, catch, grab, seize, grip; divert, amuse, entertain, distract, beguile, preoccupy, hold (someone's) attention, interest, engross, involve: Other matters occupied my attention last Sunday. While one man was keeping the shopkeeper occupied, the other man was robbing the till. 4) fill (in or up) , take up, cover, extend over, consume, use (up) , Colloq eat up: The car occupies more garage space than I thought it would. Housework occupies very little of my time.