populate
verb
pop·u·late
ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 
populated; populating
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
While rank-and-file writers populated the picket lines and eventually voted through the strike-ending contract, much of the sturm und drang of that work stoppage was also facilitated by the work of internal union staffers in member organizing and legal departments (among others).
—
Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Highlands Highlands is famously one of North Carolina’s chicest mountain towns—complete with luxury hotels (looking at you, Old Edwards Inn & Spa), unique boutique properties (like Highlander Mountain House and Outpost Inn), and a main street populated with charming galleries and boutiques.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
After signing into iCloud, text messages began populating, and the mother noticed a text thread with a phone number and no name or photo, documents said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Consider that of the 20 roster spots occupied on game days, only 11 project to be populated by players currently under contract in 2025-26.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for populate
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Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Highlands Highlands is famously one of North Carolina’s chicest mountain towns—complete with luxury hotels (looking at you, Old Edwards Inn & Spa), unique boutique properties (like Highlander Mountain House and Outpost Inn), and a main street populated with charming galleries and boutiques.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2025
After signing into iCloud, text messages began populating, and the mother noticed a text thread with a phone number and no name or photo, documents said.
—Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
Consider that of the 20 roster spots occupied on game days, only 11 project to be populated by players currently under contract in 2025-26.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for populate
Cite this Entry
“Populate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/populate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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populate
verb
pop·u·late
ˈpäp-yə-ˌlāt
populated; populating
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