Definition

1. Noun:

   • Human beings in general; persons collectively: "People" refers to a group of human individuals, considered either as a whole or as a specific collection.
   • The citizens or inhabitants of a nation, state, or community: "People" can denote the body of individuals constituting a political or social entity.
   • The members of a particular group, family, or lineage: "People" is used to refer to one's relatives, ancestors, or social group.

2. Verb:

   • To inhabit or populate an area: "People" means to fill a place with inhabitants.
   • To supply with inhabitants; to settle: "People" can mean to establish a population in a previously unpopulated or sparsely populated area.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The city square was full of people. (A large number of individuals were present.)
  • The American people voted in the election. (The citizens of the nation participated.)
  • He comes from farming people. (His family or ancestors were farmers.)

• Verb:

  • They hoped to people the new colony quickly. (They aimed to populate the colony with settlers.)
  • The island was once peopled by ancient tribes. (The island was inhabited by tribes in the past.)

Advanced Usage

• "of all people": Used to express surprise that a particular person, more than anyone else, is involved in a situation.
  • You, of all people, should understand the rules.
• "my/your/their people": Can refer to one's close associates, employees, supporters, or ethnic/national group.
  • I need to talk to my people before making a decision.
• "people say" / "they say": An impersonal construction used to report general opinion or rumor.
  • People say that the restaurant is excellent.

Variants and Related Words

• Peoples (n, plural): Distinct ethnic or national groups.
  • The indigenous peoples of the Amazon.
• Populace (n): The ordinary people of a community; the population.
• Populate (v): To live in an area; to form the population of a place. (This is a more common verb than "to people").
• Population (n): All the inhabitants of a particular place.

Synonyms

• Persons: Individuals (more formal).
• Folks: Informal term for people, often one's family or a group.
• Citizenry: The body of citizens of a state.
• Inhabitants: Those who live in a particular place.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

(Note: "People" is not commonly used to form phrasal verbs. The related verbal concept is typically expressed by "populate.")

Related Idioms

• People person: Someone who enjoys and is good at interacting with others.
  • She's a real people person, great for customer service.
• Man/woman of the people: A political or public figure who is perceived to understand and represent the ordinary citizens.
  • The senator styled himself as a man of the people.
• Beautiful people: The wealthy, fashionable, and socially prominent set.
  • The club was filled with the beautiful people.

Noun

1. the common people generally
   • separate the warriors from the mass
   • power to the people
2. members of a family line
   • his people have been farmers for generations
   • are your people still alive?
3. the body of citizens of a state or country
   • the Spanish people
4. (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
   • old people
   • there were at least 200 people in the audience

Verb

1. furnish with people
   • The plains are sparsely populated
2. fill with people
   • Stalin wanted to people the empty steppes