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

But in the long run, a Middle East populated by regimes that are less willing to follow Washington’s lead on unpopular policies or to suppress public opposition would likely be more stable than the region of today. — Marc Lynch, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Lori Schott of Colorado said Attorney General Phil Weiser has viewed the content that populated her daughter Annalee's social media feeds and read her journals after her death by suicide. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

That it’s populated with disgusting creatures and monsters, Jackson’s forté, doesn’t hurt. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026

The primary setting of the show is Manhattan Plaza, a subsidized apartment complex populated by artists and musicians, where Ali finds a sense of community while navigating a strained relationship with her mother, Jersey, and a budding romance. — Maya Santiago, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 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