people

plural peoples · alternative slang peeps · alternative slang peops · alternative obsolete peple · alternative pronunciation spelling pipple · alternative Internet ppl · alternative Internet ppl.

1. countablepluraluncountableplural of person: a body of persons considered generally or collectively; a group of two or more persons.

   These six people are waiting for the bus.

   5 more examples

   There were so many people at the restaurant last night.

   Under dictatorship, people suffered and died.

   XXII people was in this parrish drownd.

   c. 1607, plaque recording the Bristol Channel floods

   "What a charming amusement for young people this is, Mr. Darcy! There is nothing like dancing after all. I consider it as one of the first refinements of polished society."

   1813, Jane Austen, chapter 6, in Pride and Prejudice, →OCLC

   There were many wooden chairs for the bulk of his visitors, and two wicker armchairs with red cloth cushions for superior people. From the packing-cases had emerged some Indian clubs,[…], and all these articles[…]made a scattered and untidy decoration that Mrs. Clough assiduously dusted and greatly cherished.

   1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC

   Synonyms: peeps, lede, leod

2. collectivecountablePersons forming or belonging to a particular group, such as a nation, class, ethnic group, country, family, etc.

   a people apart

   5 more examples

   an industrious people

   the indigenous peoples of Europe

   the native peoples of Borneo

   `So, oh Holly. This people was an old people before the Egyptians were.'

   1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC

   Other nationalisms aimed at liberating subjugated peoples who spoke the same language and lived in the same territory.

   2002 November 21, Amos Elon, “Israelis & Palestinians: What Went Wrong?”, in The New York Review, archived from the original on 09 May 2021

   Synonyms: collective, community, congregation, folk

3. countableuncountableA group of persons regarded as being servants, followers, companions or subjects of a ruler or leader.

   his people were weary

   3 more examples

   Moses said, "Let my people go."

   And Dauid reigned ouer all Iſrael, and Dauid executed iudgement and iuſtice vnto all his people.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Samuel 8:15, column 1

   The ox knows its owner, and the ass its master's crib; but Israel does not know, my people does not understand.

   1952, Old Testament, Revised Standard Version, Thomas Nelson & Sons, Isaiah 1:3

   Synonyms: fans, groupies, supporters

4. countableuncountableOne's colleagues or employees.

   I have my people working on it.

   3 more examples

   I'll have my people call your people.

   Kennedy looked down at Flood's desk and thought about the possibilities. "Can you locate him?" "I already have my people checking on all three. So far I've only been able to confirm the whereabouts of the Jordanian officer."

   2001, Vince Flynn, Transfer of Power (fiction), Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 250

   Can I have one of my people get back to your people, Mr. President?" She tried to slam the phone back into the base and failed.

   2008, Fern Michaels, Hokus Pokus (fiction), →ISBN, page 184

5. countableuncountableA person's ancestors, relatives or family.

   His people live out west.

   2 more examples

   My people lived through the Black Plague and the Thirty Years War.

   ‘She’s going to her people in Wales,’ said Harris, ‘for the holidays, with the children; we’ve had an invitation.’

   1900, Jerome K. Jerome, Three Men on the Bummel

   Synonyms: kin, kith, folks

6. countableuncountableThe mass of a community as distinguished from a special class (elite); the commonalty; the populace; the vulgar; the common crowd; the citizens.

   The election is over and the people have spoken.

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   The people have successfully stood up against tyranny and totalitarianism.

   The people won't tolerate so much corruption any more!

   The people have spoken, the bastards.

   1966, Dick Tuck, Concession Speech

   Synonyms: populace, commoners, citizenry

7. countableuncountablePeople in general, humans, by extension sentient beings real or fictional.

   Teachers are people too.

   1 more example

   People don't like it when you tweak their noses.

present singular third person peoples · participle present peopling · participle past peopled · past peopled · alternative slang peeps · alternative slang peops · alternative obsolete peple · alternative pronunciation spelling pipple · alternative Internet ppl · alternative Internet ppl.

1. informalrareTo interact with people; to socialize.

   I don't people well.” He laughed at that. “You do okay,” he assured her.

   2020, Teri Anne Stanley, Lucky Chance Cowboy, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN

   2 more examples

   I don't people well.” “Not peopling well is a crap excuse,” I retorted, and started to step around him, but a sudden thought occurred to me.

   2018, Jennifer L. Armentrout, The Darkest Star, Tor Teen, →ISBN, page 149

   My head tilted as Calvin said, "Don't worry about him. He just doesn't people well. The fuck? I people. Sometimes. With people I know.

   2019, Casey Diam, Love

present singular third person peoples · participle present peopling · participle past peopled · past peopled

1. transitiveTo stock with people or inhabitants; to fill as with people; to populate.

   He would not be alone, who all things can; / But peopled Heav'n with Angels, Earth with Man.

   1674, John Dryden, The State of Innocence and the Fall of Man, act II, scene I

   1 more example

   Scenes, long since forgotten, had been peopling his solitude with one still cherished image paramount over all; one young fair face, whose sweet eyes seemed to look upon him reproachfully:...

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XXI, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 159

2. intransitiveTo become populous or populated.
3. transitiveTo inhabit; to occupy; to populate.

   […] / As thick and numberless / As the gay motes that people the Sun Beams, / […]

   a. 1645, John Milton, Il Penseroso, lines 7–8