as in to inhabit
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 populate
Thousands of Boston Bruins fans populated the Ottawa Senators’ home confines to watch their Original Six team play.
—
Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Jaiswal, co-author of an article on the health impacts of blood cell clones in the 2023 Annual Review of Medicine, speculates that some clones might be better at populating brain tissue or clearing away toxic proteins.
—Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025
Violette is at the heart of this small world, populated by the local gravediggers and a young priest as well as the many visitors, who stop by her lodge and confide in her about their lives and lost ones.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025
In 2014, the blogging platform Tumblr created an era-defining look and was populated by photosets of skinned knees and ripped tights, cigarettes, Doctor Who gif sets, and plenty of moody song lyrics typewritten over stormy backgrounds.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for populate 
Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Jaiswal, co-author of an article on the health impacts of blood cell clones in the 2023 Annual Review of Medicine, speculates that some clones might be better at populating brain tissue or clearing away toxic proteins.
—Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Jan. 2025
Violette is at the heart of this small world, populated by the local gravediggers and a young priest as well as the many visitors, who stop by her lodge and confide in her about their lives and lost ones.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025
In 2014, the blogging platform Tumblr created an era-defining look and was populated by photosets of skinned knees and ripped tights, cigarettes, Doctor Who gif sets, and plenty of moody song lyrics typewritten over stormy backgrounds.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for populate
Thesaurus Entries Near populate
Cite this Entry
“Populate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populate. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share