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Occupied vs Preoccupied - What's the difference?

occupied | preoccupied |

As adjectives the difference between occupied and preoccupied

is that occupied is reserved, engaged while preoccupied is concerned with something else; distracted; giving one's attention elsewhere.

As verbs the difference between occupied and preoccupied

is that occupied is past tense of occupy while preoccupied is past tense of preoccupy.

occupied

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Reserved, engaged.
    • The stall on the left is occupied .
  • Busy, unavailable.
    • she is occupied at the moment
  • Subjugated, under the control of a foreign military presence.
  • travelled to occupied Japan in December 1945

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (occupy)

    • preoccupied

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Concerned with something else; distracted; giving one's attention elsewhere.
    • I was preoccupied with a deadline at work, and I forgot his birthday.

    Verb

    (head)
  • (preoccupy)