preoccupy
Definitions
To dominate or engross the mind of someone to the exclusion of other thoughts.
To occupy or take possession of something in advance.
Examples
The constant noise from the construction site began to preoccupy my thoughts throughout the day.
She tried to preoccupy herself with a challenging book to avoid thinking about the upcoming interview.
Financial worries continue to preoccupy him, making it difficult to focus on his creative projects.