Basic Details
Word: Occupy
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: To fill or use a space or time; to live in a place; or to take control of a place by force.
Synonyms: fill, take up, inhabit, capture
Antonyms: vacate, leave, abandon
How to Spell Occupy
Syllables: oc - cu - py
Tricky part: There are two c's at the start but only one p. The word ends in y, not ie.
Watch out for: ocupy, occuppy, occupie
Memory tip: Occupy opens the same way as occasion: o, then two c's. After that, one p and a y.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Books occupy every shelf in my uncle's room.
Example 2: Is this seat occupied?
Example 3: A jigsaw puzzle can occupy me for a whole afternoon.
Fun Fact
The noun from occupy is occupation, which can mean both a person's job and the taking over of a country by an army.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
The new computer laboratory will ocupy the whole top floor of the building, so the art room is moving downstairs next term.
a) building
b) downstairs
c) ocupy
d) laboratory
Show answer
c) ocupy. Occupy starts with two c's, like occasion.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word occupy as it is used in the sentence:
The visiting cousins will occupy the guest rooms until the wedding is over.
a) fill
b) use
c) vacate
d) inhabit
Show answer
c) vacate. To vacate a room is to leave it empty, the opposite of occupying it.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters to find the word that fits the sentence:
Board games and riddles helped to pcucoy the children during the long train ride.
a) coyly
b) occur
c) accuse
d) occupy
Show answer
d) occupy. Only occupy has o, two c's, u, p and y, and only it means keep busy.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A seat marked Occupied on a train means ____.
a) it is for the guard only
b) it is free for anyone
c) someone is already using it
d) it is broken
Show answer
c) someone is already using it
2. If worries occupy your mind, they ____.
a) make you forget everything
b) help you sleep well
c) leave you feeling calm
d) keep you thinking about them
Show answer
d) keep you thinking about them
