people
persons indefinitely or collectively; persons in general: to find it easy to talk to people; What will people think?
persons, whether men, women, or children, considered as numerable individuals forming a group: Twenty people volunteered to help.
human beings, as distinguished from animals or other beings.
the entire body of persons who constitute a community, tribe, nation, or other group by virtue of a common culture, history, religion, or the like: the people of Australia; the Jewish people.
the persons of any particular group, company, or number (sometimes used in combination): the people of a parish; educated people; salespeople.
the ordinary persons, as distinguished from those who have wealth, rank, influence, etc.: a man of the people.
the subjects, followers, or subordinates of a ruler, leader, employer, etc.: the king and his people.
the body of enfranchised citizens of a state: representatives chosen by the people.
a person's family or relatives: My grandmother's people came from Iowa.
(used in the possessive in Communist or left-wing countries to indicate that an institution operates under the control of or for the benefit of the people, especially under Communist leadership): people's republic; people's army.
animals of a specified kind: the monkey people of the forest.
to furnish with people; populate.
to supply or stock as if with people: a meadow peopled with flowers.
Origin of people
1synonym study For people
Grammar notes for people
usage note For people
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.
Other words from people
- peo·ple·less, adjective
- peopler, noun
- outpeople, verb (used with object), out·peo·pled, out·peo·pling.
- un·der·peo·pled, adjective
- well-peopled, adjective
Words that may be confused with people
Words Nearby people
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use people in a sentence
Kelly is among those most torn about what to do, according to people who have spoken with him.
Former Pence aide says she will vote for Biden because of Trump’s ‘flat out disregard for human life’ during pandemic | Josh Dawsey | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostI mean, my own view is that that still just resonates with a lot of people in this country.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast) | Stephen J. Dubner | September 17, 2020 | FreakonomicsWe have very few people with it, and the people that have it are … getting better.
Timeline: The 124 times Trump has downplayed the coronavirus threat | Aaron Blake, JM Rieger | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostAdditional investees focus on giving people in underserved and under-resourced communities access to affordable housing.
Bernard Tyson’s profound impact continues even after his death—through a new social investment fund | cleaf2013 | September 16, 2020 | FortuneSuch a monumental effort would be slowed down without the buy-in of the people who live in and around these buildings.
Europe’s leaders want to create a ‘new Bauhaus’ as part of its Green Deal. But what does that even mean? | David Meyer | September 16, 2020 | Fortune
Really, is it any wonder that fluoride should freak people out?
Placed in drinking water, fluoride can serve people who otherwise have poor access to dental care.
There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Then add in all bored people, as well as people whose job it is to report on celebrities.
Sia and Shia LaBeouf’s Pedophilia Nontroversy Over ‘Elastic Heart’ | Marlow Stern | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIf anything the work the two cops and the maintenance guy were doing deserves more respect and probably helped a lot more people.
The Majesty on high has a colony and a people on earth, which otherwise is under the supremacy of the Evil One.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature | Moncure Daniel ConwayThe people here retained the same paganism and barbarity, only they were not so dangerous, being conquered by the Muscovites.
All our people were well mounted, and armed with rifles, pistols, and bowie-knives.
“This is a distressing predicament for these young people,” thought Mr. Pickwick, as he dressed himself next morning.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles DickensFew people, I think, realize that, and fewer still realize the reasonable consequences of that.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation | H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
British Dictionary definitions for people
/ (ˈpiːpəl) /
persons collectively or in general
a group of persons considered together: blind people
plural peoples the persons living in a country and sharing the same nationality: the French people
one's family: he took her home to meet his people
persons loyal to someone powerful: the king's people accompanied him in exile
the people
the mass of persons without special distinction, privileges, etc
the body of persons in a country, esp those entitled to vote
(tr) to provide with or as if with people or inhabitants
Origin of people
1people
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with people
In addition to the idiom beginning with people
- people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
also see:
- tell (people) apart
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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