to take part in an activity, event, or situation with other people
All the students agreed to participate in the science fair.
If you want to participate, please sign up before Friday.
✦ Mid-16th century, from Latin participat- ‘shared in’, from participare ‘share in’, from pars, part- ‘part’ + capere ‘take’.
a share in a loan or investment sold by the original lender or owner, giving the buyer rights to a proportionate return
The bank sold a participation in the large commercial loan to reduce its exposure.
Investors can buy a participation for as little as $10,000.
✦ Extended from the general sense of taking part, applied in early 20th-century finance to mean a shared portion of a loan.
a job, profession, or type of paid work someone does
After university, Maria found an occupation as a graphic designer at a small studio.
Nursing is a demanding occupation that requires compassion and patience.
✦ From Latin occupātiō (“seizure, business, employment”), from occupō (“to seize, take possession of”).
an activity or hobby that someone spends time doing, especially for enjoyment
In his free time, chess became John’s favorite occupation.
Reading is an occupation that relaxes her after a long day.
✦ Extended from the sense of "what occupies one’s time" in late Middle English.
the control and settlement of a place by a foreign military or political power
The city suffered greatly during the enemy occupation.
After years of occupation, the country finally regained independence.
✦ Sense of "military holding of territory" recorded from the late 18th century, evolving from the broader meaning of "taking possession."
