preoccupy

/pɹɪˈɒkjʊpˌa‍ɪ/

/pɹiˈɑkjəˌpaɪ/

to preoccupy

MAIN VERB

to engage someone's mind or attention fully, especially with worries or concerns

occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance

Examples

1. In 2008, chicken dinners preoccupied the chef.

2. The music industry was preoccupied with the whole peer-to-peer file transfer, illegal theft.

3. My brain was preoccupied with friendships, the need for friendships.

4. Number two, is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.