# populated

/ˈpɑpjəˌɫeɪtɪd/ (US) · /pˈɒpjʊlˌeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/populated
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. having inhabitants

adjective · CEFR B2

having people living in a certain area.

For teachers: inhabited by a particular group or a specific number of people.

- The coastal areas are more densely populated than the dry mountains.
- The valley remained sparsely populated for centuries until the discovery of silver brought a sudden influx of miners and merchants.

### 2. filled with data

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

filled with information, especially in a computer program or document.

For teachers: containing data or content that has been automatically or manually inserted into a digital framework.

- Once you click 'import', the spreadsheet will be populated with your contact list.
- The database was automatically populated with real-time sensor data, allowing the engineers to monitor the bridge's structural integrity from their office.

## Examples

- The software automatically populated the form with my saved details.
- The government launched a program to help citizens populate the remote northern regions of the country.
- Once the database schema is finalized, the script will populate the tables with legacy data migrated from the old system to ensure continuity for the users.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.