people 1 of 2

plural noun

ˈpē-pəl How to pronounce people (audio)
Definition of peoplenext
1
as in world
human beings in general despite the horrors she witnessed, Anne Frank never lost her faith in people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in populace
the body of the community as contrasted with the elite tensions mounted until the people rose up in rebellion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in family
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor introduced my new boyfriend to my people

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

people

2 of 2

verb

as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants a science-fiction novel about a mission to people Mars

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of people
Plural noun
Most people assume that the only way to really appreciate a show is to immerse yourself in the hours and hours and hours of content and scour the comments of every Love Island cast member’s socials to figure out who’s following whom. — Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026 Nearly 6,000 homeless people could be forced to move when security officials impose expansive security perimeters in advance of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, researchers estimated in a new study. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
The characters who people the novel rise to speak for themselves. — Literary Hub, 16 Apr. 2026 The paradox of this quartet of movies up for the new casting Oscar, all boldly peopled with nonprofessionals, is that this very practice has become professionalized. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for people
Recent Examples of Synonyms for people
  1. inhabit
  2. populate
Verb
  • The shark is only one of three shark species known to inhabit the murky waters of rivers.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The shop’s mascot, a rabbit, is named Lewis, after the original Lewis & Duncan grocery store that once inhabited the building.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of inhabit
Verb
  • This situates it alongside the North Atlantic ocean that's populated with a variety of different kinds of whales.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Alligators, by contrast, are freshwater dwellers that populate lakes, ponds and marshes across the state.
    — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of populate

Browse Nearby Words

peons
people
peopled
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Cite this Entry

“People.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/people. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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