overpopulate

[oh-ver-pop-yuh-leyt]

verb (used with object)

overpopulated, overpopulating 

1. to fill with an excessive number of people, straining available resources and facilities.

   Expanding industry has overpopulated the western suburbs.

Other Word Forms

• overpopulation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of overpopulate¹

First recorded in 1865–70; over- + populate

Example Sentences

Michael Charles, a solicitor specialising in education across Wales and England, said ALN schools had become "very overpopulated".

Read more on BBC

"If restrictions are lifted too early, they can risk an overpopulated airspace, while on the flip side, restrictions remaining in place longer than they need to can lead to unnecessary delays, which no one wants".

Read more on BBC

Authorities are now looking at translocating some animals so they don't overpopulate the area.

Read more on BBC

And the human species is way overpopulated, about four times overpopulated now.

Read more on Salon

One thing stood out: The roots of their sentiments lay in concerns that the United States has become overpopulated.

Read more on Salon