verb
people
PEE-puhl
verb
1
To fill a place with inhabitants; to populate.
"Early settlers peopled the valley over several generations."
2
To interact socially with others.
"After a long week alone, she was ready to go out and people a bit."
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.
When to use it
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
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Early settlers _____ the valley over several generations.
Etymology
From Old French pueple, from Latin populus ("a people, nation") — related to "populate" and "pueblo."