repopulate

verb

re·​pop·​u·​late (ˌ)rē-ˈpä-pyə-ˌlāt 

repopulated; repopulating

transitive verb

: to populate (something) again

As cougars repopulate much of their former range, however, they are also encountering humans more frequently.

—William K. Stevens

… captive breeding programs are helping to repopulate endangered species.

—Mike Capuzzo

In modern times it was depopulated when distant city jobs attracted its people, then repopulated by city people.

—Jane Jacobs

Any new bone-marrow cells can survive and repopulate the recipient's defense apparatus provided the markers on the cell surfaces are the same as those of the donor.

—Lewis Thomas

repopulation

(ˌ)rē-ˌpä-pyə-ˈlā-shən 

noun

The first step is the repopulation of buffalo, the Plains' signature animal.

—Edmunds V. Bunkse

… even high total doses of radiation … may not be effective in controlling tumors capable of accelerated repopulation, since the rate of cell division may outpace that of cell loss stemming from treatment.

—Allen S. Lichter et al.

Examples of repopulate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Evacuation orders for the Dulzura and Honey Springs communities to the east of the fire area and orders for an area on the north side of the fire were lifted Sunday, allowing those areas to be repopulated, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said. —Christian Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2025

Jabari Williams, captain of the L.A. County sheriff’s Altadena station, said part of Altadena south of New York Drive, east of Hill Street and west of Altadena Drive has been downgraded to an evacuation warning area and that officials are starting to repopulate the area. —Alexandra Marquez, NBC News, 13 Jan. 2025

With plans to be situated at the mouth of its namesake river, the Yangtze River Estuary Chinese Sturgeon Nature Preserve is a prospective educational aquarium and research facility aimed at repopulating the country's sturgeon and finless porpoise populations. —Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2024

That’s why a company is using underwater planting machines to help repopulate them. —Daniel Wine, CNN, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above