is populated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is populated" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a place or area that is filled with people, animals, or things. Example: "The city is populated with diverse cultures and traditions that enrich the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

29 Which city is populated by Leodensians?

Independent

It is populated with faces.

The New York Times

Airbnb is populated with professional landlords.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Mine is populated by politics and history.

The Guardian - Tech

Karamoja is populated by the Karamojong.

The Guardian

This field is populated after the tool has finished running.

Harvard University

It is populated mainly by highly sophisticated insiders.

The New York Times - Arts

Finally, the country's center is populated by Shiite Persian speakers.

The New York Times

Ordinary existence, to the death-haunted, is populated by ghosts.

The New Yorker

The WURG-9 newsroom is populated by familiar types.

The New York Times - Arts

It is populated by a small group of regulars.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is populated" to describe a space or environment that contains a specific group of people, animals, or things. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is doing the populating.

Common error

Avoid using "is populated" when referring to an abstract collection without a defined space or boundary. For example, instead of saying "The database is populated with ideas", consider "The database contains many ideas."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is populated" primarily functions as a passive verb construction. It describes a state where a subject (e.g., a place, a list, an area) has been filled or inhabited by something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates that something has been added or exists within that subject. For example, "The region is populated mainly by subsistence farmers."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

32%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "is populated" serves to describe a subject being filled or inhabited by something. It functions as a passive verb construction with a neutral to formal register and, according to Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is very common across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly specifies what is doing the populating and avoid applying it to abstract concepts without clear boundaries. Ludwig's analysis reveals that "is populated" is a versatile and reliable option for describing the composition of a subject, with numerous suitable alternatives like "is inhabited" or "is filled with" available to suit different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is inhabited

Focuses specifically on living beings occupying a space, similar to one sense of the original phrase.

is filled with

Emphasizes the presence of something filling a space, whether physical or abstract.

is teeming with

Suggests an abundance or overflow of inhabitants or elements.

is abundant in

Highlights a rich supply or plentiful existence of something.

is overflowing with

Implies a state of being excessively full, often with positive connotations.

is rich in

Emphasizes the quality of abundance, implying value or desirability.

is densely packed with

Highlights the compactness and high concentration of elements.

is thickly settled

Focuses on a high concentration of inhabitants in a specific area.

is rife with

Suggests the presence of something undesirable or problematic in abundance.

is characterised by

Highlights a key attribute or element that defines a certain subject.

FAQs

How can I use "is populated" in a sentence?

You can use "is populated" to describe a place or collection that contains elements. For example, "The island is populated with rare birds" or "The database is populated with customer data".

What are some alternatives to "is populated"?

Alternatives include "is inhabited", "is filled with", or "is teeming with", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "the list is populated with data"?

Yes, "the list is populated with data" is a correct and common usage, especially in technical contexts. It means the list has been filled with data.

What's the difference between "is populated by" and "is populated with"?

"Is populated by" typically refers to living beings, while "is populated with" can refer to both living and non-living things. For instance, "The forest is populated by deer" versus "The form is populated with user entries".