populate
verb
pop·u·late ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 
populated; populating
transitive verb
1
: to have a place in : occupy, inhabit
2
a
: to furnish or provide with inhabitants : people
b
: to provide with members
Synonyms
- colonize
- people
- settle
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Immigrants began to populate the area in the late 19th century. Strange creatures populate the ocean depths.
Recent Examples on the Web In other words, the small gadgets that populate your personal life are cogs in one big data-collecting machine, feeding off your life, and into the intelligence of Google and Amazon. 
Sarah Leonard, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 The characters that populate The Rings of Power are elves, dwarves, harfoots, and some humans. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 2 Sep. 2022 This four-pack of soft plush toys comes with a creeper, yellow ocelot, bat, and skeleton—all characters of the passive and hostile mobs that populate the game. Lauren Gray, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2022 But the ghosts, goblins and other supernatural phenomena that populate his writing perhaps reflect a keen awareness of what his readers wanted to see, rather than his personal convictions. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 La Brea Street, where the shooting occurred, runs north of and parallel to Main Street, behind several businesses and fast food restaurants that populate the main thoroughfare near Ramona Street. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 Progress for female CEOs on the Global 500 has always been slower than among the American businesses that populate the Fortune 500. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2022 America the Beautiful hopes viewers are encouraged to conserve and protect North America's natural wonders after watching the show and seeing the fantastic creatures and landscapes that populate U.S. backyards and neighborhoods. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 That wasn't on Blashill — the Wings lack the star rosters that populate a playoff team — but the way the Wings stumbled down the stretch after an encouraging first half did not reflect well on him. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 16 June 2022 See More
Sarah Leonard, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 The characters that populate The Rings of Power are elves, dwarves, harfoots, and some humans. Emily Burack, Town & Country, 2 Sep. 2022 This four-pack of soft plush toys comes with a creeper, yellow ocelot, bat, and skeleton—all characters of the passive and hostile mobs that populate the game. Lauren Gray, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2022 But the ghosts, goblins and other supernatural phenomena that populate his writing perhaps reflect a keen awareness of what his readers wanted to see, rather than his personal convictions. Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Aug. 2022 La Brea Street, where the shooting occurred, runs north of and parallel to Main Street, behind several businesses and fast food restaurants that populate the main thoroughfare near Ramona Street. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2022 Progress for female CEOs on the Global 500 has always been slower than among the American businesses that populate the Fortune 500. Paige Mcglauflin, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2022 America the Beautiful hopes viewers are encouraged to conserve and protect North America's natural wonders after watching the show and seeing the fantastic creatures and landscapes that populate U.S. backyards and neighborhoods. Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 1 July 2022 That wasn't on Blashill — the Wings lack the star rosters that populate a playoff team — but the way the Wings stumbled down the stretch after an encouraging first half did not reflect well on him. Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, 16 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin populatus, past participle of populare to people, from Latin populus people
First Known Use
1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
populate
verb
pop·u·late ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt
populated; populating
1
: to live in : inhabit
2
to provide with inhabitants
populates
verb
as in inhabits
to supply with inhabitants a small island populated only by woodland creatures Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- inhabits
- colonizes
- peoples
- settles
- moves (to)
- relocates (to)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- depopulates
- unpeoples
- comprehendingly
- comprehends
- comprehensibilities
- hydraulic lift
- hydraulic lime
- hydraulic limestone
- hydraulic mean depth
- hydraulic mining
- hydraulic oil
- hydraulic organ
- hydraulic packing
- hydraulic plunger elevator
- hydraulic press
- hydraulic radius
- hydraulic ram
- hydraulic rope-geared elevator
- hydraulic sprayer
- hydraulic-fill dam
- hydraulically
- hydrauliccer
- hydrauliccest
- hydraulicer
- hydraulicest
- hydraulicity
- hydraulicked