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

The town itself is still populated, but the accuracy and penetration of the Russian drones mean Ukrainian troops cannot blend into civilian life. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 30 May 2026

Our district is one of the most diverse and densely populated in the city, with a higher proportion of working class and immigrant families who are disproportionately impacted by rising costs and economic instability. —Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 29 May 2026

Meanwhile Disney produces many of the spectacle-heavy adventures and superhero epics that populate Imax screens. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 May 2026

Brands can utilize visual assets from a dedicated shoot to populate their content calendars across platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok. —Anthony Savino, Forbes.com, 28 May 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
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

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