How to pronounce preoccupy
Say it like pree-OK-yoo-py. Preoccupy has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce preoccupy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- OK
- yoo
- py
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preoccupy 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.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- pyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of preoccupy
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: prih-OK-yoo-py.
What does preoccupy mean?
- To distract; to draw attention elsewhere.“The father tried to preoccupy the child with his keys.”
- To worry or concern (someone) so as to distract them.“It always preoccupies me when he acts like this.”
Where does preoccupy come from?
From pre- + occupy, after Middle French preoccuper, and its source, Latin praeoccupo, praeoccupare.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying preoccupy
How do you pronounce preoccupy?
Say pree-OK-yoo-py. The American pronunciation is /priˈɑkjupaɪ/. In British English it is /prɪˈɒkjupaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preoccupy?
Preoccupy has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (OK). Broken into parts: pree · OK · yoo · py.
Is preoccupy 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 /prɪˈɒkjupaɪ/ (prih-OK-yoo-py).