people
[ pee-puh l ]
/ ˈpi pəl /
noun, plural peo·ples for 4.
verb (used with object), peo·pled, peo·pling.
to furnish with people; populate.
to supply or stock as if with people: a meadow peopled with flowers.
Origin of people
synonym study for people
4. See
race2.
usage note for people
People is usually followed by a plural verb and referred to by a plural pronoun:
People are always looking for a bargain. The people have made their choice. The possessive is formed regularly, with the apostrophe before the
-s:
people's desire for a bargain; the people's choice. When
people means “the entire body of persons who constitute a community or other group by virtue of a common culture, history, etc.,” it is used as a singular, with the plural
peoples :
This people shares characteristics with certain inhabitants of central Asia. The aboriginal peoples of the Western Hemisphere speak many different languages. The formation of the possessive is regular; the singular is
people's and the plural is
peoples '.
At one time, some usage guides maintained that people could not be preceded by a number, as in Fewer than 30 people showed up. This use is now unquestionably standard in all contexts.
At one time, some usage guides maintained that people could not be preceded by a number, as in Fewer than 30 people showed up. This use is now unquestionably standard in all contexts.
grammar notes for people
See
person.
OTHER WORDS FROM people
Words nearby people
Example sentences from the Web for peopling
British Dictionary definitions for peopling
people
/ (ˈpiːpəl) /
noun (usually functioning as plural)
verb
(tr)
to provide with or as if with people or inhabitants
Word Origin for people
C13: from Old French
pople, from Latin
populus; see
populace
undefined people
See
person
Idioms and Phrases with peopling
people