populate (B1)

verb

Pronunciation: /ˈpɒpjʊleɪt/

Definition

To live in or be present in a place or area.

Examples

• The island is populated by a few hundred people.

• Many different species of birds populate the rainforest.

• Developers are trying to populate the new housing estate.

How to Use populate

populate with (prepositional phrase)

To fill a place with people or things. — "The valley was populated with farmers and their families."

populate a place (collocation)

To be the inhabitants of a particular place. — "The new settlers began to populate the land."

Synonyms of populate

Words with a similar meaning to populate:

• inhabit
• occupy
• settle
• colonize

Antonyms of populate

Words with the opposite meaning to populate:

• depopulate
• empty

Browse the full Anaversity dictionary