What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
inhabit
Example
The island is inhabited by a small community of fishermen. [inhabited: past participle]
Example
The forest is inhabited by various species of birds and animals. [inhabited: verb]
occupy
Example
The hotel is occupied by tourists during the summer season. [occupied: past participle]
Example
The army plans to occupy the city and establish a military base. [occupy: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Occupy is more commonly used than inhabit in everyday language. Occupy is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while inhabit is less common and mainly used in the context of biology or ecology.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between inhabit and occupy?
Both inhabit and occupy are formal words that are appropriate for academic or professional writing. However, occupy may have a more serious or political tone depending on the context.
