repopulate

verb

re·​pop·​u·​late (ˌ)rē-ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 

repopulated; repopulating

transitive verb

: to populate (something) again

As cougars repopulate much of their former range, however, they are also encountering humans more frequently.

—William K. Stevens

… captive breeding programs are helping to repopulate endangered species.

—Mike Capuzzo

In modern times it was depopulated when distant city jobs attracted its people, then repopulated by city people.

—Jane Jacobs

Any 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

repopulation

(ˌ)rē-ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

The first step is the repopulation of buffalo, the Plains' signature animal.

—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.

Examples of repopulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1944, Stalin cooked up the Order of Maternal Glory to repopulate postwar Russia. —Rachel Marsden, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2025

Minassian, who made Venice his home six years ago, represents the city’s ongoing cultural wave, ushering in new international residents to Venice’s shores, repopulating it with a dynamic residential cultural fabric. —Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 7 May 2025

So, the fact that the show keeps repopulating a younger audience is really cool. —Chris Barilla, People.com, 24 Mar. 2025

The region was absorbed into an administrative unit devoid of its indigenous people, while Azerbaijani settlers moved in to repopulate the area. —Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repopulate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate