people
People (noun) means Human beings in general, or the men, women and children of a particular group, place or nation.
How to use people
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMost often a noun meaning "human beings collectively," but it can also be a verb meaning to fill somewhere with inhabitants.
The verb use ("to people a room") is more literary/formal than everyday speech.
Word forms
peopled past tense, peopled past tense, peoples singular, peoples singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Early settlers _____ the valley over several generations.
Etymology
From Old French pueple, from Latin populus ("a people, nation") — related to "populate" and "pueblo."
Related words
Rhymes for people
See all rhymes for people →Frequently asked questions
What does “people” mean?
The word “people” means to fill a place with inhabitants; to populate. In plain terms, most often a noun meaning "human beings collectively," but it can also be a verb meaning to fill somewhere with inhabitants.
How do you pronounce “people”?
“People” is pronounced PEE-puhl (/ˈpi.pəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “people” in a sentence?
Here is “people” used in a sentence: “Early settlers peopled the valley over several generations.”
What part of speech is “people”?
“People” is a verb.
Where does the word “people” come from?
The word “people” comes from Latin. From Old French pueple, from Latin populus ("a people, nation") — related to "populate" and "pueblo.".
Is “people” a common word?
“People” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “people” have?
“People” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to fill a place with inhabitants; to populate.
Can 'people' be used as a verb?
Yes, though it is uncommon. As a verb, 'to people' means to fill a place with inhabitants — to populate it. It often appears in the passive: 'the valley was peopled by settlers.' It is also used figuratively, as in a story 'peopled with memorable characters.'
What is the difference between 'people' and 'populate'?
Both mean to fill a place with inhabitants, but 'populate' is the everyday, neutral choice, while 'people' as a verb sounds more literary. 'People' also lends itself to figurative use — a book peopled with characters — where 'populate' would feel more technical or statistical.
What is an example of 'people' used as a verb?
'Immigrants peopled the frontier towns' shows the literal sense of filling a place with inhabitants. Figuratively, 'his imagination peopled the empty house with ghosts.' The past tense and past participle are both 'peopled,' and the sense is close to 'populated.'
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing people in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
The latest wildfires in southern Europe this week have displaced more than 250,000 people, including some 70,000 people who were evacuated in central Spain.
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