occupy Definition

occupy
verb occupies, occupied, occupying

1. To have possession of or live in (a house, etc).

Thesaurus: possess, own, use, utilize, reside in, tenant, inhabit, live in.
2. To be in or fill (time or space, etc).
3. To take possession of (a town or foreign country, etc) by force.

Thesaurus: obtain, seize, take over, invade, conquer, capture, overrun.
4. To enter and take possession of (a building, etc) often by force and without authority.
5a. To keep (someone, oneself or one's mind, etc) busy;

Thesaurus: absorb, busy, divert, engage, engross, entertain, interest, fascinate, preoccupy.
5b. To fill in (time).

Example: occupied the three-hour journey with knitting
6. To hold (a post or office).

Derivative: occupier
noun

Someone who lives in a building, either as a tenant or owner; an occupant.

Etymology: 14c: from Latin occupare to seize.