Synonyms of populate

populate

verb

ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 

as in to inhabit

to supply with inhabitants

a small island populated only by woodland creatures

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inhabit
• people
• colonize
• settle
• move (to)
• relocate (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• depopulate
• unpeople

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of populate

This is the sort of action-comedy buddy movie that used to regularly populate multiplexes and could easily have been made in the period in which it is set. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026

The athlete didn’t spill too many details about what happened in the room, which was populated by guests including Brad Pitt, Paul McCartney, Conan O’Brien, Gigi Hadid, Lena Dunham, and Zoë Kravitz. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Sep. 2026

The film imagines a colorful, family-friendly realm concealed just under the surface of video games themselves, populated by a covert guild of guardians tasked with keeping each title operating and preserving every player’s journey. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

As business owners are increasingly online, social media algorithms begin to populate their personal feeds with global food trends. — Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026