repopulate
verb
re·pop·u·late
(ˌ)rē-ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 
repopulated; repopulating
: to populate (something) again
As cougars repopulate much of their former range, however, they are also encountering humans more frequently.—
William K. Stevens
William K. Stevens… captive breeding programs are helping to repopulate endangered species.—Mike Capuzzo
Mike CapuzzoIn modern times it was depopulated when distant city jobs attracted its people, then repopulated by city people.—Jane Jacobs
Jane JacobsAny new bone-marrow cells can survive and repopulate the recipient's defense apparatus provided the markers on the cell surfaces are the same as those of the donor.—Lewis Thomas
Lewis Thomas
repopulation
noun
The first step is the repopulation of buffalo, the Plains' signature animal.
—Edmunds V. Bunkse
Edmunds V. Bunkse
… even high total doses of radiation … may not be effective in controlling tumors capable of accelerated repopulation, since the rate of cell division may outpace that of cell loss stemming from treatment.
—Allen S. Lichter et al.
Allen S. Lichter et al.
Examples of repopulate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The island has become a haven for the rock iguanas, who eat plentifully from the local guava plants and are beginning to repopulate.
—Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
The appendix acts a safe house for beneficial gut bacteria that help repopulate the digestive system after illness.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
The calculations revealed that spin–spin interactions inside the diamond were dynamically repopulating the energy levels of the system.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
The fear of returning But even as new residents repopulate the kibbutzim, some of those who lived through the horrors of October 7 aren’t ready to return.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repopulate
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Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
The appendix acts a safe house for beneficial gut bacteria that help repopulate the digestive system after illness.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
The calculations revealed that spin–spin interactions inside the diamond were dynamically repopulating the energy levels of the system.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 4 Jan. 2026
The fear of returning But even as new residents repopulate the kibbutzim, some of those who lived through the horrors of October 7 aren’t ready to return.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for repopulate
Cite this Entry
“Repopulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/repopulate. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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