préoccupé
masculine
The English word "preoccupied" is translated into French as préoccupé.
This adjective describes someone who is distracted or concerned with something else. However, while English speakers often use "preoccupied" to mean being lost in thought, the French term préoccupé carries a stronger nuance of being worried or troubled by a specific concern.
Meaning: concerned with something else, distracted (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is built from the prefix pré- (before/ahead of) and occupé (occupied), literally meaning "occupied beforehand" in one's mind.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the adjective changes to match the gender and number of the person being described. To form the feminine singular, add an extra -e to the masculine form to get préoccupée. For the masculine plural, add an -s to the masculine singular to get préoccupés. The feminine plural is created by adding -es to the masculine singular form to get préoccupées.
Did you know?
- If you want to describe someone who is simply 'lost in thought' without the stress implied by préoccupé, the French use the phrase être dans la lune, which literally means 'to be in the moon'.
- The word occupé is a direct cognate of 'occupied', but in a French social context, if someone asks how you are and you answer je suis occupé, it can sound much more abrupt and dismissive than 'I am busy' does in English.
- Because préoccupé leans toward 'worried', a French speaker might react to the word with a question like Qu'est-ce qui t'arrive ? (What's happening to you?) to check if there is a problem.
Examples in context
- Elle était si préoccupée qu'elle ne se rendait pas compte de ce qui l'entourait.She was so preoccupied that she was oblivious of her surroundings.This sentence shows how someone can be so preoccupied with their own thoughts that they are oblivious to their surroundings.Tatoeba #8966347 by lbdx, translation #310308 by CM
- Les valeurs d'une société préoccupée exclusivement par la recherche du profit ne sont pas tout à fait rassurantes.The values of a society totally preoccupied with making money are not altogether reassuring.This sentence uses the term to describe a society that is preoccupied with a specific goal, such as profit-seeking.Tatoeba #8249943 by Micsmithel, translation #6287104 by Hybrid
- Je suis préoccupé(e) par ma prochaine réunion.I am preoccupied with my upcoming meeting.
- Il semble distrait lorsqu'il parle en public.He seems preoccupied when speaking in public.
- Elle est souvent absorbée par son travail.She is often preoccupied with her work.
- Ne lui parle pas maintenant, elle est dans la lune.Don't talk to her now, she's preoccupied.
- Désolé(e) si je parais distant(e), j'ai la tête ailleurs en ce moment.Sorry if I seem distant, I'm preoccupied at the moment.
- Il est toujours dans ses pensées, difficile de le distraire.He's always preoccupied with his thoughts, hard to distract him.
- Il semble préoccupé par son travail aujourd'hui.He seems preoccupied with his work today.
Example conversation
Gabriel is staring into space during a lunch break.
- GabrielGabriel, tu es très préoccupé aujourd'hui.Gabriel, you are very preoccupied today.
- LéaOui, je pense à mon entretien demain.Yes, I am thinking about my interview tomorrow.
- GabrielNe sois pas si préoccupé, tout ira bien.Don't be so preoccupied, everything will go well.
- LéaMerci, Léa, c'est gentil.Thank you, Léa, that's kind.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “preoccupied” translations and entries préoccupé, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
