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

Mora with El Sabor de Mi Puebla, who opened his food truck more than a decade ago in an area populated with street vendors, said the urgent need by some operators to earn money may lead them to rush past official channels. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025

Plus, the marine life that populates SpongeBob’s underwater world is animated beautifully (especially for those of us who love vibrant, bold colors). —Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025

The divers found a swath of ocean populated by weird and wild creatures, from delicate corals and shimmering worms to spiky sea slugs and hairy crabs. —Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 19 Dec. 2025

The stories, however, are extremely derivative, populated by characters who don't always share the 3D qualities of the visuals. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 18 Dec. 2025

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