preoccupy
(verb)
verb
1. engage or engross the interest or attention of beforehand or occupy urgently or obsessively
- His work preoccupies him
- The matter preoccupies her completely--she cannot think of anything else
Definition categories: emotion, command, control
2. occupy or take possession of beforehand or before another or appropriate for use in advance
- the army preoccupied the hills
Definition categories: possession, arrogate, assume, seize, usurp
Sentences with preoccupy as a verb:
- The father tried to preoccupy the child with his keys.