Definition of occupy

The word "occupy" has its roots in the Latin verb "occupare," which means "to take possession of" or "to occupy." This Latin verb is a combination of "ob," meaning "on" or "upon," and "capere," meaning "to take." The Latin verb was used in the sense of taking possession of something, such as land or a position. The word "occupy" was borrowed into Middle English from Old French "ocuper," which was derived from the Latin verb. In Middle English, the word "occupy" initially had the sense of "to take possession of" or "to settle in." Over time, the meaning of the word expanded to include the sense of "to engage in" or "to devote time to," as in "to occupy oneself with a task." Today, the word "occupy" is commonly used to describe physical or intellectual activities, such as occupying a space, occupying one's time, or occupying a profession.