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

Cleaning up public parks, repopulating native plants and advocating for homeless neighbors. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2025

There simply has not been enough IPOs to repopulate it with newer offerings. —Bob Pisani, CNBC, 12 Dec. 2024

Residents who agreed to repopulate the core would be able to choose from a variety of housing templates. —Paige Williams, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025

Areas affected by the fire are being repopulated, and residents are being escorted to repopulated zones between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. local time, according to Cal Fire. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for repopulate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate