French word

occuper

Pronunciation

IPA/okype/

Meaning

  • verbtake up

Example

Le fichier occupe beaucoup d'espace sur le disque.

The file takes up a lot of space on the disk.

Illustration for occuper (take up)

More examples

Il occupe un poste important dans l'entreprise.

He holds an important position in the company.

Core concept

A person or thing filling a slot, area, or stretch of time that could otherwise remain open.

Common phrases

  • occuper un poste

    hold a position

  • occuper une chambre

    occupy a room

  • occuper beaucoup d'espace

    take up a lot of space

Similar words

prendre: Use a place or stretch of time, reducing the amount still available.
remplir: Make a space or container full by putting contents into it.
s'installer: Move into a new place and settle there.
exercer: Work in a profession or hold a job as a regular occupation.

Definition in French

Prendre et garder une place, un intervalle de temps ou une fonction, au sens concret ou figuré.

Word origin

The verb comes through French from Latin occupare, based on capere, 'to take'; its possession sense extended to spaces, time, duties, and positions.

Usage tips

  • The constructions differ by object: occuper quelqu'un keeps a person busy, whereas occuper un poste means to hold a job or position.

Other meanings

  • holdverb
  • keep busyverb
  • occupyverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word