populated
Intermediate (B1)
IPA: /ˈpɒpjʊleɪtɪd/
KK: /ˈpɑːp.jə.leɪ.tɪd/
adjective
Definition
Filled with people or living things; having many inhabitants.
Example
The city is highly populated, with millions of residents living there.
Conversation
Have you seen how populated the city has become lately?
Yeah, it feels like there are people everywhere now!
I wonder how they manage to find housing in such a populated area.
It must be tough, but I guess there are always new developments popping up.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
inhabited
crowded
filled
Antonyms
desolate
empty
vacant
verb
Definition
To fill an area with people or things; to inhabit or occupy a space.
Example
The city was populated by a diverse group of people from different cultures.
Tense Forms
Past: populated
Past Participle: populated
Conversation
Did you see how the new mall has populated the area?
Yeah, it's crazy! I never expected it to grow so fast.
I know, right? It feels like the city has populated overnight.
Root Explanation
Populated → It is formed from "populus" (meaning people) and the suffix "-ate" (indicating to make or to cause). The word "populated" means made full of people or inhabited by people.
Memory Tip
Think of 'populus' meaning people, and remember that 'populated' refers to an area that is filled with people.
Visually Confused Words
unpopulated
papulated
unpopulate
repopulate
depopulate
poplared
papulate
oculated