占める|しめるshimeru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Definitions
  1. ichidan verb, transitive verbto account for; to make up; to take up
    ある研究けんきゅうによれば、ガンによる女性じょせいの死亡しぼう数すうの中なかでは肺はいがんが17%を占しめている。↗
    A study shows lung cancer accounts for 17% of women's cancer deaths.
  2. ichidan verb, transitive verbto occupy (a place, position, etc.); to hold (a rank, seat, etc.)
    ギャンブルで味あじを占しめるとなかなか止とめられない。↗
    Once you get the taste for gambling, it's hard to give it up.
  3. ichidan verb, transitive verbto occupy (one's mind, heart, etc.); to weigh (on one's mind); to grip (e.g. one's heart)
  4. ichidan verb, transitive verbto gain; to secure; to obtain; to win
Conjugation
Dictionary form占める(しめる)
Polite (masu)占めます(しめます)
Negative (nai)占めない(しめない)
polite (masen)占めません(しめません)
classical zu / nu占めず・占めぬ(しめず・しめぬ)
Past (ta)占めた(しめた)
polite (mashita)占めました(しめました)
Past negative (nakatta)占めなかった(しめなかった)
polite (masen deshita)占めませんでした(しめませんでした)
Te form占めて(しめて)
Potential占められる(しめられる)
Passive占められる(しめられる)
Causative占めさせる(しめさせる)
Causative passive占めさせられる(しめさせられる)
Conditional (ba)占めれば(しめれば)
tara占めたら(しめたら)
Volitional占めよう(しめよう)
polite (mashou)占めましょう(しめましょう)
Imperative占めろ(しめろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym占有せんゆうNeutralA noun for holding something exclusively under one's control, as in 「市場占有率」 (market share). 「占める」 is a broader verb.
  • Related保有ほゆうNeutralRefers to holding onto something over the long term, as in 「株式を保有する」. 「占める」 is about occupying a position or the share something makes up in a whole.
  • Related所有しょゆうNeutralRefers to legal ownership of something. 「占める」 instead focuses on occupying a position or the share something accounts for.
  • Related領有りょうゆうWrittenA written, formal word for possessing territory. 「占める」 is much broader in what it can cover.
  • Related擁するようするWrittenA written word for having or commanding something, as in 「大軍を擁する」. 「占める」 centers on shares and proportions.
  • Related有するゆうするWrittenA formal written verb for having or possessing, as in 「権利を有する」. 「占める」 is about occupying a position or place.
  • Antonym明け渡すあけわたすNeutralOpposite of 「占める」: vacating or handing over a place, position, or power one occupies.

Use 「占める」 for occupying a position or place and for shares of a whole. For ownership use 「所有」 or 「有する」, long-term holding 「保有」, exclusive possession 「占有」, territory 「領有」; 「擁する」 is formal prose. 「明け渡す」 is the antonym.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 場所ばしょや空間くうかんなどを占有せんゆうする。
  2. 該当がいとうする人ひと・物もの・意見いけんなどが、全体ぜんたいのうちのある割合わりあいをとる。
  3. (「味あじをしめる」の形かたちで)多おおく不道徳ふどうとくなことがらについて、うまみを知しる。
  4. (「しめた」の形かたちで)ことがうまくいくさま。感動詞かんどうし的てきにも用もちいる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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