The difference between Employ and Occupy

When used as verbs, employ means to hire (somebody for work or a job), whereas occupy means to take or use time. to fill time. to possess or use the time or capacity of.


Employ is also noun with the meaning: the state of being an employee.

check bellow for the other definitions of Employ and Occupy

  1. Employ as a noun:

    The state of being an employee; employment.

    Examples:

    "The school district has six thousand teachers in its employ."

  1. Employ as a verb:

    To hire (somebody for work or a job).

    Examples:

    "Yesterday our local garage employed a new mechanic."

  2. Employ as a verb:

    To use (somebody for a job, or something for a task).

    Examples:

    "The burglar employed a jemmy to get in."

  3. Employ as a verb:

    To make busy.

  1. Occupy as a verb (transitive):

    To take or use time. To fill time. To possess or use the time or capacity of; to engage the service of. To fill or hold (an official position or role). To hold the attention of.

    Examples:

    "The film occupied three hours of my time."

    "The film occupied me for three hours."

    "I occupy myself with gardening for a few hours every day."

    "I occupy the post of deputy cat catcher."

    "I occupied her friend while he made his proposal."

  2. Occupy as a verb (transitive):

    To take or use space. To fill space. To live or reside in. To have, or to have taken, possession or control of (a territory). To place the theodolite or total station at (a point).

    Examples:

    "The historic mansion occupied two city blocks."

  3. Occupy as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To have sexual intercourse with.

  4. Occupy as a verb (obsolete):

    To do business in; to busy oneself with.

  5. Occupy as a verb (obsolete):

    To use; to expend; to make use of.

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