populates; populated; populating
: to live in (a country, city, area, etc.) : to make up the population of (a place)
Immigrants began to populate the area in the late 19th century.
Strange creatures populate the ocean depths.
—often used as (be) populatedThe country is populated by many ethnic groups.
—often used figurativelyThe area is populated by small farms. [=the area has many small farms]
His stories are populated with real-life characters.
Cite this Entry
“Populate.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/populate. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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