preoccupation

Everyday

1. A state of thinking about one thing so much that you hardly notice other things: «In his preoccupation, he missed the bus.» tree →
2. Something that fills your mind all the time, a worry or strong interest: «Football is his main preoccupation.» tree →

In the lessons

In stories it shows a character lost in thought or worried; in everyday life it names what someone cares about most. Phrases: «a preoccupation with», «main preoccupation», «lost in preoccupation».

Examples

• Her preoccupation with the test made her forget her lunch. tree →
• Winning the cup was the team's only preoccupation. tree →
• Dad's main preoccupation is paying the bills. tree →
• His preoccupation with his phone annoyed his gran. tree →
• The writer's great preoccupation was the sea. tree →
• In her preoccupation she walked straight past her friend. tree →

Note

Countable when it means a thing that fills your mind (preoccupations); uncountable when it means the state. Use «with»: a preoccupation with money. Adjective: preoccupied; verb: preoccupy. Not about «occupation» (a job), though it shares the root.