How to pronounce preoccupied
Say it like pree-OK-yuh-pyde. Preoccupied has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OK).
- pree
- OK
- yuh
- pyde
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preoccupied pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- preeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- OKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- pydeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of preoccupied
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pree-OK-yuh-pyde.
What does preoccupied mean?
- Concerned with something else; distracted; giving one's attention elsewhere.“I was preoccupied with a deadline at work, and I forgot his birthday.”
- Describing a taxonomic name not available for use because it is already used for another.
- simple past and past participle of preoccupy How to pronounce preoccupy
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with preoccupied
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of preoccupied.
Questions about saying preoccupied
How do you pronounce preoccupied?
Say pree-OK-yuh-pyde. The American pronunciation is /priˈɑkjəˌpaɪd/. In British English it is /priˈɒkjəˌpaɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preoccupied?
Preoccupied has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OK). Broken into parts: pree · OK · yuh · pyde.
Is preoccupied pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /priˈɒkjəˌpaɪd/ (pree-OK-yuh-pyde).