Marvo Dict en → es · Español

occupy

S2 W1

BrE /ˈɒk.juː.pɪ/ AmE /ˈɑː.kuː.pi/

verb en → es

past occupied pp occupied ing occupying

1 FILL TIME [transitive, T + obj] B1

to spend time doing something, especially when you are waiting for something else to happen or when you have nothing better to do

ocupar (el tiempo), pasar el rato

  • occupy yourself with sth

Collocations occupy oneself with a hobby · occupy oneself waiting for something

  • She occupied herself by reading magazines.

    Ella se ocupó leyendo revistas.

2 CONTROL [transitive, T + obj] B2

to control or have power over a place, area, or country

ocupar (una zona), controlar

  • occupy a territory

Collocations occupy enemy territory · occupy a city

  • The army occupied the town.

    El ejército ocupó la ciudad.

3 FILL SPACE [transitive, T + obj] B1

to fill or use a space, especially in a building

ocupar (un espacio), llenar

  • occupy a room

Collocations occupy the main hall · occupy an office

  • The furniture occupies most of the space.

    El mobiliario ocupa la mayor parte del espacio.

4 EMPLOY [transitive, T + obj] B2

to employ or give work to someone

emplear, contratar

  • occupy sb with sth

Collocations occupy workers in a factory · occupy people with tasks

  • The company occupies over 100 employees.

    La empresa emplea más de cien trabajadores.

5 THINK ABOUT [transitive, T + obj] B2

to think about something for a long time, especially when you are worried or concerned about it

ocuparse (de algo), preocuparse por

  • occupy one's mind with sth

Collocations occupy your thoughts with a problem · occupy someone’s attention

  • She occupied her mind with the problems of the world.

    Ella se ocupó de los problemas del mundo.

6 USE TIME [transitive, T + obj] B2

to use a period of time for doing something, especially when you are busy or working

ocupar (el tiempo), pasar el tiempo en

  • occupy one's time with sth

Collocations occupy your time with meetings · occupy someone’s day with work

  • He occupies his time with writing and painting.

    Él ocupa su tiempo escribiendo y pintando.

7 FILL POSITION [transitive, T + obj] C1

to fill a position or job, especially one that is important or official

ocupar (un puesto), asumir

  • occupy a post

Collocations occupy an important position · occupy the role of director

  • She occupies the position of head teacher.

    Ella ocupa la posición de directora.

8 FILL SPACE [transitive, T + obj] C1

to fill a space or area with something, especially when you are decorating or arranging furniture in it

ocupar (un espacio), llenar

  • occupy a wall

Collocations occupy the walls with paintings · occupy an area with furniture

  • The pictures occupy the entire wall.

    Las pinturas ocupan toda la pared.