One of the mysteries of the English language finally explained.
Synonyms of occupy in English:
occupy
See definition of occupy
verb
1‘Carol occupied the basement flat’
live in, inhabit, be the tenant of, tenant, lodge in, be ensconced in, be established in, ensconce oneself in, establish oneself in, take up residence in, make one's home in, settle in, move into
people, populate, settle
Scottish South African stay in
formal reside in, dwell in
2‘two long windows occupied almost the whole of the end wall’
take up, fill, fill up, cover, extend over, use up, utilize
3‘he occupies a senior post at the Treasury’
hold, be in, fill, have
informal hold down
4‘I need something to occupy my mind’
engage, busy, employ, distract, absorb, engross, preoccupy, hold, hold the attention of, immerse, interest, involve, entertain, divert, amuse, beguile
5‘Hamburg was occupied by the French in 1812’
capture, seize, take possession of, conquer, invade, overrun, take over, colonize, garrison, annex, dominate, subjugate, hegemonize, hold, commandeer, requisition
leave, abandon, quit