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Populate: Definition, Usage & Common Mistakes (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：inhabit a place (populate)

populate 🔊

/ˈpɒp.jʊ.leɪt/ (UK), /ˈpɑː.pjə.leɪt/ (US)

vt.

To live in a place as part of the population, often referring to a group of people or animals forming a community in an area.

Populate meaning illustrated by a vibrant inhabited coastal town at dusk.

inhabit a place 🔊

➕

/ɪnˈhæb.ɪt ə pleɪs/

vt.

To be present in and form the living community of a particular area, like people or animals.

📁 Category：Animal Protection 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'populus' (people) + verb-forming suffix '-ate'.

💡 Mnemonic

People Operate Places, Ultimately, To Exist. 'Popul'-ate reminds you of 'population'.

📖 Example

Many different bird species populate this quiet forest island. 🔊 This quiet forest island is home to many different bird species.

🔗 Collocations

densely populated – having a high number of inhabitants per unit area

sparsely populated – having few inhabitants spread over a large area

populate a region – to live in and establish communities within a geographical area

🔄 Synonyms

inhabit (vt.) – To live in or occupy a place.

occupy (vt.) – To reside or be situated in a place.

colonize (vt.) – To establish a colony or community in a new area.

🚫 Antonyms

depopulate (vt.) – To reduce sharply the population of an area.

desert (vt.) – To leave a place empty or abandoned.

abandon (vt.) – To leave a place completely and no longer use it.

🌱 Derivatives

population (n.) – All the inhabitants of a particular place.

populous (adj.) – Having a large population.

repopulate (vt.) – To populate an area again.

📖 Cultural Story

Derives from Latin 'populatus', past participle of 'populare' (to populate), which itself comes from 'populus' (the people). The word historically linked people with place. In modern computing, 'populating a database' is a high-frequency technical use case.

Meaning 2：fill with data (populate)

populate 🔊

/ˈpɒp.jʊ.leɪt/ (UK), /ˈpɑː.pjə.leɪt/ (US)

vt.

To add data or information into a blank field, form, or database, making it complete.

Populate definition shown by filling data into an empty spreadsheet cell.

fill with data 🔊

➕

/fɪl wɪð ˈdeɪ.tə/

vt.

To supply or enter data into an empty system, field, or template to make it functional or complete.

📁 Category：Technological Inventions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

When you register on our website, your details will automatically populate your user profile. 🔊 Your information will be automatically entered into your user profile when you sign up on our site.

🔗 Collocations

populate a database – to enter data into a database system

auto-populate a field – to fill a form field automatically, often using saved or linked data

populate a dropdown list – to fill a selection menu with available options

🔄 Synonyms

fill (vt.) – To put something into a container or space until it is full.

enter (vt.) – To put data into a computer system or form.

load (vt.) – To transfer data into a computer's memory or a software system.

🚫 Antonyms

clear (vt.) – To remove data or entries from a field or form.

delete (vt.) – To remove or erase data completely.

empty (vt.) – To remove the contents of something, leaving it blank.

🌱 Derivatives

prepopulated (adj.) – Filled with data in advance.

population (n.) – In computing, the act of supplying data or the data itself in a system.