🏠 Early possession 🤔 Mental absorption

preoccupancy

8.5

Being very focused on one thought or worry

noun
/priˈɑkjəpənsi/

: preocupación

Her constant preoccupancy with work left little time for family or friends.

Examples

The preoccupancy of his mind with the problem made him seem distant to others.
The child's preoccupancy with video games worries his parents.
During meditation, one seeks to let go of the preoccupancy with daily worries.
Her preoccupancy with work affects her relationships.
Her constant preoccupancy with work left little time for family or friends.
The preoccupancy of his mind with the problem made him seem distant to others.
During meditation, one seeks to let go of the preoccupancy with daily worries.

Synonyms

focus

vspreoccupancy

∞ 3.5

Close attention to one subject or activity

is about attention being dominated by a specific concern rather than just emphasis

obsession

vspreoccupancy

280 5.1

A very strong, lasting interest that controls your thoughts and actions

can be the same domination but without the strong persistence or irrationality

concentration

vspreoccupancy

110 3.3

The ability to give all your attention to something

is a state where attention is dominated rather than only an act or skill

fixation

vspreoccupancy

31 7.5

An unhealthy strong interest in someone or something that harms daily life

is being dominated by a thought without implying harm or unhealthy intensity

preoccupation

vspreoccupancy

27 5.6

Thinking about something a lot and not noticing other things

is the less common form of the very same mental state

absorption

vspreoccupancy

7 4.9

A person gives complete attention to something and does not notice other things

is about attention dominated by a particular concern rather than general immersion

focusing

vspreoccupancy

5 2.1

To give most of your attention to one task or thing

is the condition of attention being dominated rather than the act of directing it

centering

vspreoccupancy

4 4.9

Focusing the mind and attention on one thought or goal

is a state where a thought dominates attention rather than a deliberate act

unhealthy obsession

vspreoccupancy

3 6.1

A very strong focus on someone or something that harms your life

is the neutral condition of being mentally absorbed without harmful excess

obsessiveness

vspreoccupancy

2 7.0

Thinking about something too much and doing the same thing again and again

is a mental domination by thought rather than repeated uncontrollable acts

engrossment

vspreoccupancy

1 7.0

Full attention to something that makes you forget other things

is about attention dominated by a specific thought rather than general involvement

intentness

vspreoccupancy

1 6.8

A strong, focused attention on a task

is similar but not necessarily as intense or forceful in focus

centration

vspreoccupancy

Specialized

1 8.6

Giving all attention to one part and ignoring other important details

is attention dominated by a whole concern rather than a narrow single aspect

abstractedness

vspreoccupancy

1 9.9

A state of being deeply lost in thought and not noticing things around you

is about attention focused on one concern rather than general absentmindedness

obsessivity

vspreoccupancy

9.9

Being too focused on one idea or activity

is about attention dominated by a concern rather than compulsive behavior

Antonyms

distraction

303 2.9

Something that takes your attention away from what you are doing

How Preoccupied

obsession

280 5.1

preoccupancy

8.5

absorption

7 4.9

distraction

303 2.9

Surface Forms

preoccupancy singular

preoccupancies plural

Morphology

preoccupancy = preoccupy (opaque) = pre + occupy + ancy

From the verb 'preoccupy', the suffix '-ancy' straightforwardly forms a noun for the state or condition involved.

Etymology

Preoccupancy comes from the parts pre- 'before' and occupy 'to take or hold', so imagine a thought that 'takes' your mind before any other idea. So, preoccupancy means being mentally absorbed or dominated by one idea.