populate

verb

pop·​u·​late ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 

populated; populating

transitive verb

1

: to have a place in : occupy, inhabit

Strange creatures populate the deep ocean.

2

a

: to furnish or provide with inhabitants : people

… there were survivors, and their descendants populate the world today.

—Walter Alvarez

b

: to provide with members

Synonyms of populate

• inhabit
• people

Examples of populate in a Sentence

Immigrants began to populate the area in the late 19th century.

Strange creatures populate the ocean depths.

Recent Examples on the Web

Denmark is a small but thriving tourist destination known for its legendary design scene and the cool locals who populate it. —Shannon Sharpe, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026

The photos of those, and future submissions, will populate a gallery on the foundation’s website and will be highlighted on its social media platforms. —Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2026

Within 24 hours of paying your invoice, your parking passes will populate in your Inter Miami CF App and Account Manager page. —Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026

It’s populated by craven, cowardly traitors. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin populātus, past participle of populāre "to provide with inhabitants,", derivative of Latin populus people entry 1

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for populate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

populate

verb

pop·​u·​late ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt 

populated; populating

1

: to have a place in : occupy, inhabit

2

: to provide with inhabitants : people