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Antonyms for occupying

Grammar : Adj
Spell : ok-yuh-pahy
Phonetic Transcription : ˈɒk yəˌpaɪ


Definition of occupying

Origin :
  • mid-14c., "to take possession of," also "to take up space or time, employ (someone)," irregularly borrowed from Old French occuper "occupy (a person or place), hold, seize" (13c.) or directly from Latin occupare "take over, seize, take into possession, possess, occupy," from ob "over" (see ob-) + intensive form of capere "to grasp, seize" (see capable). The final syllable of the English word is difficult to explain, but it is as old as the record; perhaps from a modification made in Anglo-French. During 16c.-17c. a common euphemism for "have sexual intercourse with" (sense attested from early 15c.), which caused it to fall from polite usage.
  • "A captaine? Gods light these villaines wil make the word as odious as the word occupy, which was an excellent good worde before it was il sorted." [Doll Tearsheet in "2 Henry IV"]
  • Related: Occupied; occupying.
  • adj filling a place
  • adj engaging attention
Example sentences :
  • The woman had consented to our occupying an out-house, and had agreed to buy the provisions.
  • Extract from : « Ned Myers » by James Fenimore Cooper
  • It was a beautiful morning, and Gloria and the cat were occupying the broad piazza.
  • Extract from : « Gloria and Treeless Street » by Annie Hamilton Donnell
  • Will this be excuse enough for occupying a few sentences with the rhyming of this poem?
  • Extract from : « A Dish Of Orts » by George MacDonald
  • The subgleba broad, occupying about one-third of the cavity.
  • Extract from : « The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise » by M. E. Hard
  • Instead of occupying the rear seat she climbed to that beside me.
  • Extract from : « Kent Knowles: Quahaug » by Joseph C. Lincoln
  • I picked up and folded the chair I had been occupying and joined the busy group.
  • Extract from : « The Rise of Roscoe Paine » by Joseph C. Lincoln
  • Unquestionably, the problems of the morrow were occupying all breasts.
  • Extract from : « War from the Inside » by Frederick L. (Frederick Lyman) Hitchcock
  • Their owner was occupying a seat three removed down the aisle.
  • Extract from : « Garrison's Finish » by W. B. M. Ferguson
  • I decided on occupying the confessional, which was close to the door.
  • Extract from : « The Memoires of Casanova, Complete » by Jacques Casanova de Seingalt
  • The father was rowing, and Willie was occupying the proud position of steersman.
  • Extract from : « What the Blackbird said » by Mrs. Frederick Locker

Synonyms for occupying

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019