What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
occupy
Example
The new building will occupy the empty lot downtown. [occupy: verb]
Example
She has occupied the position of CEO for over a decade. [occupied: past participle]
Example
I need to occupy my time with something productive. [occupy: verb]
consume
Example
He consumed the entire pizza by himself. [consume: verb]
Example
The factory consumes a lot of energy to operate. [consumes: present tense]
Example
She was consumed by the mystery novel and couldn't put it down. [consumed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Consume is more commonly used than occupy in everyday language. Consume is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while occupy is less common and refers to a specific type of use or possession.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between occupy and consume?
While consume can be used in both formal and informal contexts, occupy is often associated with a more formal tone and is commonly used in legal or business contexts.
