ocupar
verbCEFR B2
What does “ocupar” mean in English?
to occupy, to take up
to occupy, to take up (ocupar un espacio/cargo — be in or fill a place, position, or role)
Example sentences
España ocupa el quinto lugar en producción de aceite de oliva.
Spain occupies fifth place in olive oil production.
Los manifestantes ocuparon la plaza durante una semana.
The protesters occupied the square for a week.
Me ocuparé del problema en cuanto termine esta reunión.
I will deal with the problem as soon as this meeting is over.
How to use it
ocupar means 'to occupy' — a space, a position, a rank, or someone's time. The reflexive ocuparse de means 'to take care of / deal with'. Distinct from preocupar (to worry). High-frequency at B2 in academic and political writing.
Common mistake
Learners confuse ocupar and preocupar. Ocupar = to occupy/take up space or a role; preocupar = to worry/concern. They look similar but mean different things.