Preoccupied

Examples

• She seated herself beside her uncle opposite to Will, and was evidently preoccupied with something that made her almost unmindful of him. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
• Scarcely a day passed that did not find Professor Porter straying in his preoccupied indifference toward the jaws of death. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
• The bar-maid appeared from the inner regions of the parlour, excited and preoccupied. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• A rose lay beside her, and if she now and then glanced at the flower, it was with no infraction of her usual preoccupied air. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
• She had a preoccupied look, and she made her apologies for being late rather absently. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
• I could not wonder at this after the reception his preoccupied mind had given to my guardian's letter, but I determined to try Ada's influence yet. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
• He was preoccupied only with animals and men. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• He'll never benefit himself in that way, patient and preoccupied workman. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• He had been preoccupied with his own vindication, and had been blind to what Ladislaw might infer on his own account. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
• Graham, it chanced, was at that time greatly preoccupied about some school-prizefor which he was competing. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
• She had been trotting along, so preoccupied and busy that she had not recognised them until they turned upon her. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• She was so preoccupied that at first she did not know me, though she sat looking at me with that curious, bright-eyed, far-off look of hers. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
• It is that I am very preoccupied with my work. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
• It was preoccupied with the revival of Roman ascendancy on earth, which it conceived of as its inheritance. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• They were totally preoccupied. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
• Firstly, my mind was too preoccupied to be able to take in the subject clearly. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
• Thus, in riding home, both the brother and the sister were preoccupied and inclined to be silent. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
• The captain bowed in a preoccupied way to her. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
• Long, as if the person knocking were preoccupied in mind, and forgot to leave off. Charles Dickens. Little Dorrit.
• For a moment the clear perception of this preoccupied her, distinct and perfect in its final reality. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
• He was too busy, too practical, and above all too much preoccupied with his own advancement, to indulge in such unprofitable asides. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
• He even showed surprise when he saw Mr. Lorry, and was altogether in an absent and preoccupied state. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
• I mean rather that unhappy people are often preoccupied, and not in the mood for discoursing with companions of my nature. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
• We have already told how Nabonidus was so preoccupied with antiquarian research as to neglect the defence of his kingdom against Cyrus. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• I was preoccupied with business matters. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
• We talked a little; but both our minds were preoccupied by the coming ordeal. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
• He walked slowly, and with the measured step and preoccupied air of one who was waiting. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
• Rome was preoccupied at home. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
• But I explain to you why one is preoccupied and why one is irritated. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
• After sitting for some time gazing at the fire with a preoccupied air, he suddenly turned his head. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.

Edited by Ian