populate

verb

pop·​u·​late ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt How to pronounce populate (audio)
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

Examples of populate in a Sentence

Immigrants began to populate the area in the late 19th century. Strange creatures populate the ocean depths.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Results populate as pins on the map with relevant grab quotes from Maps community reviews. Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2024 In 2020, Sanders ran another spirited Presidential campaign, and his reward for dropping out of the race and endorsing Biden was the creation of two Unity Task Forces, one populated with some of his supporters and the other with some of Biden’s. Nicholas Lemann, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 One morning, Wilson watched the trial from the courtroom’s gallery, which was often populated by other attorneys. Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2024 Over time, it was discovered there is a link between the gut microbiome—the bacteria that populate the intestinal system—and stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. Elaine Pofeldt, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for populate 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin populātus, past participle of populāre "to provide with inhabitants,", derivative of Latin populus people entry 1

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of populate was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near populate

Cite this Entry

“Populate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

populate

verb
pop·​u·​late ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt How to pronounce populate (audio)
populated; populating
1
: to have a place in : occupy, inhabit
2
: to provide with inhabitants : people

More from Merriam-Webster on populate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!