as in inhabits
to supply with inhabitants
a small island populated only by woodland creatures
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of populates
If a store has been buying Petaluma Creamery two-pound cheddar on a consistent cycle for years, the AI pre-populates the order.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Inexperience populates its outfield.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2026
An officer will take a photo that auto-populates the student’s information, expediting the entry process, a CBP spokesperson said.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Creator Studio subscribers can take advantage of the Magic Fill feature that populates cells or a column based on a pattern in other cells—for example, creating a First Name and Last Name column from a column with full names.
—Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
Pixar populates this ocean with entertaining characters and unforgettable dangers, but the thrills won’t scare young viewers about taking a dip, even with the presence of a ravenous shark.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Plus, the marine life that populates SpongeBob’s underwater world is animated beautifully (especially for those of us who love vibrant, bold colors).
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s not much tension to be found in these interviews, even as Fumudoh is still playing her comic role as puritan interrogator, but her questions regularly facilitate the type of quick-witted banter that populates Instagram video-podcast clips.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Another concern became the proprietary algorithm that populates what users see on the app.
—Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Inexperience populates its outfield.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2026
An officer will take a photo that auto-populates the student’s information, expediting the entry process, a CBP spokesperson said.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Creator Studio subscribers can take advantage of the Magic Fill feature that populates cells or a column based on a pattern in other cells—for example, creating a First Name and Last Name column from a column with full names.
—Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
Pixar populates this ocean with entertaining characters and unforgettable dangers, but the thrills won’t scare young viewers about taking a dip, even with the presence of a ravenous shark.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Plus, the marine life that populates SpongeBob’s underwater world is animated beautifully (especially for those of us who love vibrant, bold colors).
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s not much tension to be found in these interviews, even as Fumudoh is still playing her comic role as puritan interrogator, but her questions regularly facilitate the type of quick-witted banter that populates Instagram video-podcast clips.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Another concern became the proprietary algorithm that populates what users see on the app.
—Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for populates
inhabits
Verb
-
But unlike Disclosure or Airframe or—above all—State of Fear, his spate of latter-day thrill-eds, Sphere unpolemically inhabits this epistemology of doubt that colors so much of his work.—
Ian Mackenzie,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
The trees here don't speak to people, but locals say the spirit of an old man inhabits the shadows between the branches.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Populates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populates. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
