as in inhabits
to supply with inhabitants
a small island populated only by woodland creatures
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Recent Examples of populates
If a store has been buying Petaluma Creamery two-pound cheddar on a consistent cycle for years, the AI pre-populates the order.
—
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Inexperience populates its outfield.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2026
An officer will take a photo that auto-populates the student’s information, expediting the entry process, a CBP spokesperson said.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Creator Studio subscribers can take advantage of the Magic Fill feature that populates cells or a column based on a pattern in other cells—for example, creating a First Name and Last Name column from a column with full names.
—Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
Pixar populates this ocean with entertaining characters and unforgettable dangers, but the thrills won’t scare young viewers about taking a dip, even with the presence of a ravenous shark.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Plus, the marine life that populates SpongeBob’s underwater world is animated beautifully (especially for those of us who love vibrant, bold colors).
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s not much tension to be found in these interviews, even as Fumudoh is still playing her comic role as puritan interrogator, but her questions regularly facilitate the type of quick-witted banter that populates Instagram video-podcast clips.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Another concern became the proprietary algorithm that populates what users see on the app.
—Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Inexperience populates its outfield.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 10 May 2026
An officer will take a photo that auto-populates the student’s information, expediting the entry process, a CBP spokesperson said.
—Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026
Creator Studio subscribers can take advantage of the Magic Fill feature that populates cells or a column based on a pattern in other cells—for example, creating a First Name and Last Name column from a column with full names.
—Edward Mendelson, PC Magazine, 19 Mar. 2026
Pixar populates this ocean with entertaining characters and unforgettable dangers, but the thrills won’t scare young viewers about taking a dip, even with the presence of a ravenous shark.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025
Plus, the marine life that populates SpongeBob’s underwater world is animated beautifully (especially for those of us who love vibrant, bold colors).
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s not much tension to be found in these interviews, even as Fumudoh is still playing her comic role as puritan interrogator, but her questions regularly facilitate the type of quick-witted banter that populates Instagram video-podcast clips.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Another concern became the proprietary algorithm that populates what users see on the app.
—Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for populates
inhabits
Verb
-
Rebecca Montero’s lighting design and Steve Covey’s projection design helps define the many places Moses inhabits, shifting the mood and focus with subtle changes that suggest everything from cold, city streets to synagogues to the Berkshire woods.—
Michelle F. Solomon,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
-
Over pinwheeling synths, Mahesh inhabits her narrator’s misplaced longing with gooey, heart-eyed delusion and sweetly pathetic determination.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Populates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/populates. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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