preoccupare

Preoccupare is an Italian verb that typically means to cause someone to worry or to cause concern. It can also be used in the sense of occupying someone’s thoughts with a problem or issue. In its reflexive form, preverbalization occurs with preoccuparsi, meaning to worry oneself or to become concerned. The noun form preoccupazione translates to worry or concern, while the adjective preoccupante describes something that is worrying or concerning.

Etymology and meaning development: preoccupare derives from Latin præoccupāre, formed from præ- “before” and occupāre “to seize, occupy.” The archaic sense of occupying beforehand evolved into mental preoccupation in modern Italian, giving the current primary meaning (to worry) and the transitive sense of causing concern.

Conjugation: Preoccupare is a regular -are verb. Present indicative: io preoccupo, tu preoccupi, lui/lei preoccupa, noi preoccupiamo, voi preoccupate, loro preoccupano. Passato prossimo (with avere): ho preoccupato, hai preoccupato, ha preoccupato, abbiamo preoccupato, avete preoccupato, hanno preoccupato. Imperfect: preoccupavo, preoccupavi, preoccupava, preoccupavamo, preoccupavate, preoccupavano. Future: preoccuperò, preoccuperai, preoccuperà, preoccuperemo, preoccuperete, preoccuperanno. Subjunctive present: preoccupi, preoccupi, preoccupi, preoccupiamo, preoccupiate, preoccupino. Reflexive usage (preoccuparsi): mi preoccupo, ti preoccupi, si preoccupa, ci preoccupiamo, vi preoccupate, si preoccupano.

Usage notes: Transitive use describes causing worry in others (La notizia ha preoccupato i genitori). Intransitive reflexive use expresses the subject’s own concern (Mi preoccupo per l’esame). The common informal imperative per comes in forms like non ti preoccupare; formal commands use preoccupi or preoccupate (Lei, voi). Related terms include preoccupazione (worry), preoccupato (worried), and preoccupante (worrying).

See also: preoccuparsi, preoccupazione, preoccupante, allarmare, inquietare.