people1 nounpeople2 verb
peoplepeo‧ple1 /ˈpiːpəl/ ●●● S1 W1 noun 
WORD ORIGINpeople1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French peuple, from Latin populus; ➔ POPULAREXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- People are getting very worried about rising crime.
- People sometimes make fun of my name.
- an earthquake that left thousands of people homeless
- How many people were at the concert?
- I don't want people to feel sorry for me.
- I like the people I work with.
- I never understand people who say they don't like vegetables.
- Most people hate writing essays, but I quite like it.
- The Statue of Liberty was a gift from the people of France.
- Historical objects provide links with the people who made and used them.
- I think people thought in the beginning I was going to be a flash in the pan, like Tiny Tim.
- It means that people need or want a product.
- Later, her staff members became aware of the larger number of promotions and monetary rewards accorded to people in other groups.
- Mobility Allowance is paid to people who become unable to walk or virtually unable to walk before the age of 65.
- Protean-like kings, these people raise and they may likewise level.
- Thomas' own sales and publicity team consists of 12 people in the office, plus eight reps.
- Three people, whom I did not know, asked me about the outcome.
THESAURUS
people in general: · Most people know that smoking causes lung cancer.· People are the same everywhere.
informal people: · Louisa's parents were country folk and believed very much in herbal remedies.· They looked like two ordinary folk.· There are still folk around here who remember the old days.
ordinary people, not people who belong to the government or are members of a particular company or organization: · This information should be made available to the public.
all the people who live in a particular area: · The majority of the population were farmers.· The city has a population of 11 million.
all the people in the world, considered as a group: · the origins of the human race
(also humankind) people in general – used especially when talking about their history or development, or how something affects their existence. Some people think that the word mankind seems to make women seem unimportant, and prefer to use humankind instead: · Travelling into space was a great advance for mankind.
formal the people who live in a country – a very formal use: · It is a country where 80% of the populace live in poverty.
Longman Language Activatora person · I think Sue's a really nice person.· He's the only person I know who can speak Chinese.· There were over 200 people at the meeting.· The streets were suddenly full of people.
a person - use this when you do not know who the person is, or when it is not important to say who it is: · Someone phoned you but I didn't get their name.· What would you do if somebody tried to rob you in the street?someone else/somebody else (=another person): · Can't you get someone else to clean the kitchen for you?
a person - use this when you are comparing people with animals or machines: · The drug had never before been tested on a human being.· Computers have replaced humans in many factories.
a person - use this especially when you are talking about responsibility or choice: · It is the responsibility of each individual within the class to make sure they have the correct books.· The decision to have an operation should be up to the individual involved.
a person who seems strange, interesting etc: · A couple of suspicious-looking characters were standing outside the house.· Beneath his brash, noisy exterior was a much shrewder and lonelier character than he admitted.
people in general people in general: · People are getting very worried about rising crime.· I don't want people to feel sorry for me.most/some people: · Most people hate writing essays, but I quite like it.
all people - use this to make general statements about how people behave, what people like etc: · Don't you like ice-cream? I thought everyone liked it!· Everybody has the right to a good education.· Everyone knows that smoking is bad for you.
American spoken people: · Folks around here have been pretty angry about the governor's actions.most/some folks: · Some folks think the schools are better now than they were twenty years ago.
all the people in the world, considered as one group: · Pollution is threatening the future of the human race.the entire/whole human race: · The entire human race could be wiped out by nuclear war.a member of the human race: · Until then, no member of the human race had ever been able to make a map of the whole world.
people in general - used especially when talking about their history and development, or how something affects their continued existence: · The Americans exploded the first nuclear weapon in the history of mankind.· Travelling into space was a great advance for mankind.· In the interests of humankind we must stop destroying our planet.
people in general - use this when you are comparing humans with other living things. Some people do not use this word because it can seem offensive to women: · Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited city known to man.· The grandeur of the mountains is a constant reminder of man's insignificance.· The Dutch reclamation of their land is a classic case of man's struggle against nature.
people in general - use this especially when you are talking about people's rights to be treated like all other humans and not suffer cruelty, hunger etc: · 30% of humanity live in conditions of terrible poverty.a crime against humanity: · The General was accused of committing crimes against humanity.
ordinary people who do not belong to the government, the police etc, and do not have any special rights: · The castle is open to the public during the summer.· The public ought to know how the money from taxes is being spent.a member of the public: · Some of these politicians never meet ordinary members of the public.the general public: · Tickets will become available to the general public in June.
people in general - use this to talk about people as an organized group with a system of laws and accepted behaviour: · Islamic society· The judge described Smith as 'a danger to society'.member of society: · We want our students to become useful and responsible members of society.
: young/old/rich/country/city etc folk people of a particular type or from a particular area, considered together as a group: · The young folk need to have a place where they can go in the evenings.· Stella's ambition is to get a job working with old folk.· His parents were hard-working country folk.
use this about conditions, problems, and changes that affect all the people in society: · Rising unemployment led to even more social problems.· social changes that brought women even greater freedom
all the people in a particular area, city, country etc all the people who live in a town or country - use this when saying how many people live there, or giving some facts about them: the population of Tokyo/Greece etc: · In 1966 the population of Lima was about two million.a population of five million/twenty million etc: · New Jersey has a population of around 7.6 million.the black/Catholic/male population (=all the black people, Catholic people etc in a place): · 30% of the male population suffers from heart disease.the general population (=people in general compared with a particular group): · In our study, significantly more miners complained of weight loss than the general population.
all the people who live in a particular place: the British/Korean/Nigerian etc people: · Reagan's views were shared by a majority of the American people.the people of Paris/China etc: · the awful sufferings of the people of Sarajevo
all the people who live in France, Germany etc - use this when describing them in a general way or as a political force: · The French are famous for their love of good food.· The Chinese are trying to industrialize without changing the essential nature of their society.
a group of people who live in the same area, especially when they all belong to the same religious group or race: · The murder has shocked the local community.the Jewish/Muslim/Greek etc community: · New York's Jewish community
people who live in London, New York, Paris etc: · For most New Yorkers, life will never be the same again.· The Milanese (=people from Milan) elected a new mayor yesterday.
a person in a story a person in a story in a book, film, or play: · It was a wonderful story -- the characters were so convincing.the main/central character: · The interesting thing about the play is the conflict between the two main characters.
the man or boy who is the main character in a book, play, film etc, who people admire because he is good, strong, brave, honest etc: hero of: · Indiana Jones is the hero of the film.tragic hero (=a hero who suffers a lot): · Hamlet is Shakespeare's most famous tragic hero.
the woman or girl who is the main character in a book, play, film etc, who people admire because she is good, strong, brave, honest etc: heroine of: · The heroine of her latest novel is a middle-class English woman.
relating to people, not animals or machines use this about people's abilities, character, or behaviour, when you are comparing people with animals or machines: · the effects of pollution on the human and animal population· Bacteria cannot be seen with the human eye.
for each person: $500/2 pieces etc per person $500, two pieces etc for each person: · There were only two pieces of bread per person.· You can get a decent meal for less than £20 per person.
: $10/£5 etc a head use this to say how much something costs for each person: · We paid £5 a head for our Christmas dinner.· Guests were paying $800 a head for luxury hotel accommodation.
if something costs a particular amount, or someone uses a particular amount etc per capita , that is how much each person pays, uses etc - used especially in business, politics, or economics: · Among the largest consumers of energy per capita is the United States.per capita income/expenditure/consumption etc: · The average per capita income has decreased over the past five years.· In Europe the per capita supply of trained medical staff has increased dramatically.
no people no person or people: · No-one was home, so I left a note.· He explained what had happened but nobody believed him.no one at all/nobody at all: · Nobody had supported him, nobody at all.
no one - use this when it is unusual or surprising that there is no one somewhere: · It was strange. There wasn't a soul in the street.not a soul to be seen/not a soul in sight: · Steve looked in every room, but there was no sound and not a soul to be seen.
all the people who live in a particular country all the people of a country: · It was a fair election, the people have made their decision, and we must all accept it.the American/British/Thai etc people : · UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the British should stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people.my/our people : · "Millions of our people are still victims of poverty," said Mandela.the people of : · To what extent did the people of Italy support the new government?
all the people of a country, considered together as a group - use this especially to talk about important events that affect everyone in the country: · The President will make a radio broadcast to the nation this evening.· When Churchill died, the whole nation went into mourning.· The president seems to no longer care what the country thinks.· People think our country has lost its sense of purpose and direction.
the total number of people who live in a particular country or the total number of a particular group of people: · In many Western European countries the population is no longer increasing.population of : · The population of Germany is about 80 million.the Jewish/Russian/Asian etc population : · The country's Jewish population was angered by the prime minister's remarks.
unable to escape use this to emphasize that something is more important or happens more with one particular thing than any others: · This disease mostly affects women, particularly women over 50.· Paris is always full of tourists, especially during the summer months.especially/particularly if/when: · Allow plenty of time for your visa to be processed, especially if you are applying by mail.especially/particularly good/important/difficult etc: · This is a particularly good example of the problem we've been discussing.
spoken especially - used in conversation: · I bought it specially for you.· We specially wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre.specially if/when: · You really need a car - specially when you live a long way from the nearest town.
use in particular to mention one person or thing that is more important or more interesting than all similar things: · Mary loves most classical music, in particular Bach and Vivaldi.· Kids in particular will love the rides and shows.anything/anyone/anywhere etc in particular: · Was there anything in particular that you wanted to talk about?
use above all to emphasize that something is more important than all the other things you have mentioned: · Get plenty of sleep, eat lots of good food, and above all try to relax.· John felt sad, embarrassed, but above all angry that Anna could treat him like this.
more than anything or anyone else: · Swimming and soccer are fun, but I like dancing most of all.· He was friendly and intelligent, but most of all he was a good worker.· Out of everybody at school she was the person who helped me most of all.
especially not: · She told no one, least of all her husband, what she planned to do.· Nobody wants to stop you from following the career of your choice, least of all me.
formal use this to say that someone or something is an important example of what you are talking about: · The use of illegal drugs - notably marijuana - has increased in recent years.most notably: · A number of respected philosophers, most notably Leibniz, criticized Newton's theories.
spoken more than anyone else - use this when someone has said or done something you think is very surprising or unlikely for them to do or say: · You of all people shouldn't be calling him worthless.· Why is Jennifer Stern, of all people, so important?
more than any other person: · You more than anyone should know how difficult it is to raise a child alone.· Freud, more than anyone, was responsible for the establishment of psychology as a science.
if you give special or particular care, attention, or interest to something, you give it more attention than usual or more attention than you give anything else: special/particular care/attention/interest: · You should pay particular attention to spelling.· Special care must be taken to reward children appropriately for good behavior.
what people say about something use this to tell someone what someone else has said or written: · According to today's paper, 20 people died in the fire.· Rob's got a new girlfriend, according to Janine.
British /rumor has it American spoken say this when you are telling someone something that you heard from someone else, which may not actually be true: · To join the club, rumor had it, you had to be earning more than $100,000 a year.rumour has it (that): · Rumour had it that she only married him for his money.
spoken use this to say what a lot of people believe and say: they say/people say (that): · They say her husband's in prison.so they say (=use this when you are not sure whether something is true): · The test isn't difficult, or so they say.
spoken use this to say what you have read or been told, although you do not directly know about it yourself: · It's going to be hot this weekend, apparently.· Apparently, Jim's a really good tennis player.
spoken use this to tell someone about what may happen in the future, that you have heard other people talking about: · He was doing very well at college and there was talk of him being accepted for Harvard.· The company already does business with Germany and Japan and there's been some talk of a deal with the French.
spoken say this when you have heard people saying that something is true but you do not believe it: · Richard was supposedly a tall, dark-eyed handsome man.· He was supposedly delivering some papers to her but I think it was just an excuse to see her.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
He pledged that he would never lie to the American people. Rice formed the staple food of the common people. The party try to portray the prime minister as a man of the people (=someone in power who understands or is like ordinary people). The majority of residents here are decent citizens. frail elderly people He’s very good with people (=skilful at dealing with people). Hundreds of people were reported killed or wounded. a chance to meet like-minded people We should like to thank the many people who have written to us offering their support. The book is about ordinary people. We are determined to bring the people responsible to justice. It is those same people who voted for the Democrats who now complain about their policies. He said that the main purpose of the Baha'i faith was to bring people together. the ordinary working manCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=people who work or are involved in the theatre etc) The hotel was full of business people.
The hotel was full of business people. He pledged that he would never lie to the American people. Rice formed the staple food of the common people. The party try to portray the prime minister as a man of the people (=someone in power who understands or is like ordinary people). (=belonging to or popular with the ordinary people) the People’s Liberation Army Diana – the people’s princess
the People’s Liberation Army Diana – the people’s princess· The American people are proud of their democracy.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· They want to protect the rights of all people.
· All people who take part in sport should have regular check-ups.
· Almost all people with the disease have smoked at some time in their lives.
· Public attitudes have changed.
· I pushed my way through the crowd of people.
The majority of residents here are decent citizens. (=but not hundreds or thousands) Dozens of people were killed.
Dozens of people were killed. (=deliberately try to make people have strong feelings)· His speech roused the crowd and stirred up their emotions.
frail elderly people He’s very good with people (=skilful at dealing with people). Hundreds of people were reported killed or wounded. a chance to meet like-minded people We should like to thank the many people who have written to us offering their support. The book is about ordinary people.· There is still a lot of prejudice against women in positions of authority.
(=start rebelling)· The peasants rose in rebellion.
We are determined to bring the people responsible to justice. (=start to take part in a revolt)· At a word from Gandhi, India would have risen in revolt.
It is those same people who voted for the Democrats who now complain about their policies. (=the ability to deal with people)· He wasn’t a good communicator and had no people skills at all.
· If people don’t like it, they can leave.
He said that the main purpose of the Baha'i faith was to bring people together. the ordinary working man· As usual Black people are on the margins, and seem to be animated props.· An angry crowd of black people.· It has backfired because those worst hit by the pandemic, black people, are paying the price.· He hung out with black people when it could have been a career-killer for anybody else.· Up to 500 black people are killed by the security forces.· Arkansas joined Dixie in enslaving black people and suffering in Reconstruction.· Relatively, more black people were held in secure prisons.
· Access to housing Most housing departments failed to integrate disabled people into their allocation policies.· The approach to Disabled people of the arts community does not escape this conditioning.· Our main goal is to bring a little sunshine in to the lives of all disabled people.· All stand to gain from such legislation and comparative employment law can be used to empower disabled people.· Need fewer poor people, black people, disabled people?· But disabled people gathered in Duke Street during the ceremony to protest at the scheme.· Other work included decorating and gardening for elderly people, single parents and disabled people.
· These factors indicate that the families of vulnerable elderly people are not easy to define.· Hughes looks at comprehensive assessment of elderly people and their carers.· Society is ambivalent about recognising that elderly people have a legitimate wish to continue to express their sexuality in physical ways.· Voice over 300 elderly people were in the audience.· Falling over toys that have been left lying around can be fatal for elderly people and very serious for children. 3.· That means that more and more elderly people are being forced down to income support or poverty line levels.· Standard of Living A significant number of elderly people have a low standard of living.
· Why may some local people dislike this?· These clinics were run by the government to serve local people.· It would, says Peter Allen, also signal a message of hope for local people.· Outside the site offices local people queue for jobs that were promised to each family.· Although local people must have known his hiding place, he was never betrayed.· Most protestors were local but people from Belfast, Cork, Derry, Dublin and other areas attended.· This boat now provides access to the forest for scientists and local people.· The local people naturally defend their crops, usually with totally inadequate weapons such as ancient shotguns loaded with buckshot.
· I have heard therapists say matter-of-factly that in old people, withdrawal, depression, and apathy are normal.· Oral historians had meanwhile begun to record the earlier memories of ordinary old people, working right across the country.· It's not like the old days when people lived in villages and knew whose great-great-grandad was a horse thief or whatever.· Perhaps that was how middle-aged or old people felt about love.· Yet older people are either chopped or, worse, not given a chance.· All those boarded-up shops and only old people about, dreaming on doorsteps or creeping along in the sun.
· He has gone to meet ordinary people.· They were just ordinary lower-class people, administrators, small bureaucrats, or Lumpenproletariat.· By comparison with the religious orders, the secular church went much closer into the life of ordinary people.· As a leader, Kim was cordial to and comfortable with ordinary people.· Strangers, the poor, knights, soldiers, friars, and ordinary rural people are provided for.· Factories closed, hundreds were thrown out of work, and, as winter approached, ordinary people began to shiver.· But we must drive inflation down so low that it no longer affects the decisions made by ordinary people, businesses and government.· When ordinary people are called upon to make sense of this hash the results can be truly nutty.
· But he wasn't stuck up about this, nor did he ignore Carrie and Nick when other people were there.· I felt possessive about those bands, and felt jealous when other people wrote about them.· Relationships - enjoying the support of other people.· They look great on other people, but not on me.· There are other people who have sun-tans that leave white patches on their arms.· I was so sure I knew what was right, so critical of other people.· A similar illness affected dozens of other people across the region.· But other people wouldn't care about that.
· Those most likely to be caught in this new, downward flow are young people from the poorest homes.· These young people have been raised in the glare of cease-less media violence and incitement to every depravity of act and spirit.· There would be a test for all young people at the age of twenty-one.· Since Partnerships have a responsibility to achieve equal opportunities for all young people, community organisations should participate at the planning stage.· And many of these young people are well qualified and well paid.· In turn, this can lead to an acceptance of physical ill-health that would not be tolerated by younger people.· The effects of unemployment Furthermore, young people themselves do not respond uniformly to unemployment.· The young people who returned illegally to the cities felt there was little left to lose.
VERB· They are usually purpose-built, with facilities to help disabled people and are staffed by qualified people.· There are two important elements in practicing law that I cherish: independence and helping other people.· I have emphasized these aspects in order to help people protect themselves.· Lower wage settlements, claimed the Treasury and the Department of Employment, would help to price people back into jobs.· I am much more aware of oppression and racism now, more socially aware, more into doing things to help people.· The effect would be worst on their small projects ... the kind which help poor people the most.· The program helped talented people develop the rarefied skills of a Disney animator, and it became a fixture of the studio.
· And sometimes we kill people, although hardly at all these days.· You want to add more magazines to the assault weapons so they can spray and kill even more people.· Rogue troops are even suspected of participating in the car bombing at the Jakarta stock exchange in September that killed 15 people.· Strokes kill people and cancers kill people, but can a stroke kill a cancer?· Looking at me, you'd never guess I'd killed three people.· It came to Fakhru that he had tried to kill two people that morning and it was still not time for lunch.· According to the International Herald Tribune of June 11 the tribal separatist movement there had killed an estimated 2,000 people since 1975.· The immorality lies in the inherent wrongness of people deliberately killing other people.
· It is the responsibility of the regional ambulance officer to deliver that standard to all the people living in his district.· No matter how people live, they are still human beings, and they deserve to be treated like human beings.· It's the story of the people who live there.· The people who lived under it hated it.· We felt sorry for the people who lived in towns.· And 25 percent of divorced people would also live the single life.· The grants aim to help people live in the community as independently as possible.· His book, Learned Optimism, is a must for really negative thinkers or the people who live with them.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► people/women/students etc of color► people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones► innocent victims/bystanders/people etc► the little people► some 500 people/50%/£100 etc► X number of people/things
1persons [plural] used as the plural of ‘person’ to refer to men, women, and children: - "Millions of our people are still victims of poverty," said Mandela.
- It was a fair election, the people have made their decision, and we must all accept it.
- Reagan's views were shared by a majority of the American people.
- the awful sufferings of the people of Sarajevo
- The mayor should remember that he was elected to serve the people.
- To what extent did the people of Italy support the new government?
- UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said the British should stand shoulder to shoulder with the American people.
- Arafat has urged his people to refrain from violence.
- As a senior manager, you will be judged by the performance of your people.
- Where do your people come from?
- "Annie" was directed by John Huston, of all people.
- Why is Jennifer Stern, of all people, so important?
- You of all people should have realized the risks.
- You of all people shouldn't be calling him worthless.
- How could this go unnoticed by, of all people, the subjects themselves?
- I've been cursed for wanting Elian back with his father, of all people.
- It was Gentle, of all people.
- Now its humiliation has been deepened by, of all people, a second-hand car salesman.
- One way is to emphasize the inherent innocence of all people with the disease.
- The incident that occurred and of all people me.
- Why, of all people, him.
- A kitten, of all things.
- He of all people picks his words carefully.
- She heard, of all things, a piano.
- She was a homeless wanderer until tiny Delos alone of all places on earth consented to receive her.
- So, in Missouri, of all places, my Koreanization began.
- The rest of my offences were committed in self-defence, when I found the hands of all People were against me.
- There I was admitted by the butler, of all people.
- William Forsyth began it before he sold out, with the help of John Brown, of all people.
- I am extremely -; oh, a host of things, but not angry any more.
- It costs a fortune to buy a Porsche - some people have all the luck.
- Springsteen is still a man of the people.
- Supporters viewed him as a man of the people.
- He truly is a man of the people.
- Joey, a legend among motor-cycling fans in Ulster, has always been a man of the people.
- Just a man of the people, trying to make a dollar.
- The Conservatives want to demonstrate that the Prime Minister is a man of the people.
- For the mass of the population, indeed, the shift of interest arguably went in the other direction.
- Such feelings developed very much within the context of the lived experience of the mass of the population.
- After serving two years of her sentence, she was released on probation.
- As no man can serve two masters we had long been told no wise general tries to fight on two fronts.
- He gave Edberg no chance of breaking him, serving four stunning aces and a massive percentage of first services.
- Newton was released after serving two years in prison.
- Reagan became the first incumbent to serve two terms in the presidency since Dwight D.. Eisenhower in the 1950s.
- She served three consecutive terms from 1877 to 1885, and was noted for her fearlessness and power of debate.
- The new managers saw their administrative responsibilities as serving two purposes.
- This story serves two important purposes.
- I finally realized I could not be all things to all people.
- Andrea felt tremendous pressure to succeed, to continue to be all things to all people.
- Anyway, these compendiums try to be all things to all people.
- For years, the stores had managed to be all things to all people.
- In this sense many of the international firms will try to be all things to all people.
- It is all things to all men ... and this is perhaps its number one axiom.
- No-one is all things to all people, and Anthea is no exception.
- Politicians have to be all things to all people.
- The single truck was all things to all men and women.
- I get the impression the indigenous locals know the travelling people keep disappearing to have some blow, and resent it.
- In the past, pearl fishing was often carried out by travelling people who used a glass-bottomed bucket to locate them.
- There are areas that are perfectly acceptable to the travelling people who use York.
- Wilkins has turned some heads by claiming to be the best football player ever.
- A kiss-and-tell look behind the scenes of a sport always turns heads with book publishers.
- Her tiny waist and substantial bosom turned heads right across the bar.
- My average customer wants to be seen, wants to turn heads.
- None of the Lavenders had ever turned heads.
- She would have turned heads anywhere in a navy blue backless dress which rose just above her knee.
- The blast must have hit solidly all at once and had given them the briefest chance to turn heads only.
How many people were at the meeting? At least 40 people were killed. the people who live next door2people in general [plural] people in general, or people other than yourself: I don’t care what people think. People can be really mean sometimes.theatre/business etc people (=people who work or are involved in the theatre etc) The hotel was full of business people.3country/race [countable] the people who belong to a particular country, race, or areathe British/American etc people He pledged that he would never lie to the American people.people of the Basques, a people of northwestern Spain the peoples of Europe4the people [plural] a)all the ordinary people in a country or a state, not the government or ruling class: The people rebelled. Rice formed the staple food of the common people. The party try to portray the prime minister as a man of the people (=someone in power who understands or is like ordinary people).the people’s party/army etc (=belonging to or popular with the ordinary people) the People’s Liberation Army Diana – the people’s princess b)American English used in court cases to represent the government of the US or of a particular state: The People vs. Romero5somebody’s people [plural] a)the people that a king or leader rules or leads: The king ordered his people to prepare for war. b)the people who work for a person or organization: A manager’s job is to make his or her people feel part of the system. c) old-fashioned your relatives, especially your parents, grandparents etc: Do your people live round here?6of all people spoken used to say that someone is the person you would least or most expect to do something: Why should he, of all people, get a promotion? You of all people should have known better.7to get attention [plural] American English spoken informal used to get the attention of a group of people: Listen up, people! → little peopleGRAMMAR: Singular or plural verb?People is followed by a plural verb: · The American people are proud of their democracy. ✗Don’t say: The American people is proud of its democracy.THESAURUSpeople people in general: · Most people know that smoking causes lung cancer.· People are the same everywhere.folk informal people: · Louisa's parents were country folk and believed very much in herbal remedies.· They looked like two ordinary folk.· There are still folk around here who remember the old days.the public ordinary people, not people who belong to the government or are members of a particular company or organization: · This information should be made available to the public.population all the people who live in a particular area: · The majority of the population were farmers.· The city has a population of 11 million.the human race all the people in the world, considered as a group: · the origins of the human racemankind (also humankind) people in general – used especially when talking about their history or development, or how something affects their existence. Some people think that the word mankind seems to make women seem unimportant, and prefer to use humankind instead: · Travelling into space was a great advance for mankind.populace formal the people who live in a country – a very formal use: · It is a country where 80% of the populace live in poverty.people1 nounpeople2 verb
peoplepeople2 verb [transitive] formal VERB TABLE
people
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | people |
| he, she, it | peoples | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | peopled |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have peopled |
| he, she, it | has peopled | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had peopled |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will people |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have peopled |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am peopling |
| he, she, it | is peopling | |
| you, we, they | are peopling | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was peopling |
| you, we, they | were peopling | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been peopling |
| he, she, it | has been peopling | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been peopling |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be peopling |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been peopling |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The region has traditionally been peopled by Armenians.
- It peoples itself in the sunbeams.
- The neighborhood is dominated by the Waterloo train station and peopled by derelicts late at night.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES The majority of residents here are decent citizens. frail elderly people He’s very good with people (=skilful at dealing with people). Hundreds of people were reported killed or wounded. a chance to meet like-minded people We should like to thank the many people who have written to us offering their support. The book is about ordinary people. We are determined to bring the people responsible to justice. It is those same people who voted for the Democrats who now complain about their policies. He said that the main purpose of the Baha'i faith was to bring people together. the ordinary working man
· They want to protect the rights of all people.
· All people who take part in sport should have regular check-ups.
· Almost all people with the disease have smoked at some time in their lives.
· Public attitudes have changed.
· I pushed my way through the crowd of people.
The majority of residents here are decent citizens. (=but not hundreds or thousands) Dozens of people were killed.
Dozens of people were killed. (=deliberately try to make people have strong feelings)· His speech roused the crowd and stirred up their emotions.
frail elderly people He’s very good with people (=skilful at dealing with people). Hundreds of people were reported killed or wounded. a chance to meet like-minded people We should like to thank the many people who have written to us offering their support. The book is about ordinary people.· There is still a lot of prejudice against women in positions of authority.
(=start rebelling)· The peasants rose in rebellion.
We are determined to bring the people responsible to justice. (=start to take part in a revolt)· At a word from Gandhi, India would have risen in revolt.
It is those same people who voted for the Democrats who now complain about their policies. (=the ability to deal with people)· He wasn’t a good communicator and had no people skills at all.
· If people don’t like it, they can leave.
He said that the main purpose of the Baha'i faith was to bring people together. the ordinary working manPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► people/women/students etc of color► people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones► innocent victims/bystanders/people etc► the little people► some 500 people/50%/£100 etc► X number of people/things
1if a country or area is peopled by people of a particular type, they live there SYN inhabitbe peopled by/with somebody- A kitten, of all things.
- He of all people picks his words carefully.
- She heard, of all things, a piano.
- She was a homeless wanderer until tiny Delos alone of all places on earth consented to receive her.
- So, in Missouri, of all places, my Koreanization began.
- The rest of my offences were committed in self-defence, when I found the hands of all People were against me.
- There I was admitted by the butler, of all people.
- William Forsyth began it before he sold out, with the help of John Brown, of all people.
- I am extremely -; oh, a host of things, but not angry any more.
- It costs a fortune to buy a Porsche - some people have all the luck.
- Springsteen is still a man of the people.
- Supporters viewed him as a man of the people.
- He truly is a man of the people.
- Joey, a legend among motor-cycling fans in Ulster, has always been a man of the people.
- Just a man of the people, trying to make a dollar.
- The Conservatives want to demonstrate that the Prime Minister is a man of the people.
- For the mass of the population, indeed, the shift of interest arguably went in the other direction.
- Such feelings developed very much within the context of the lived experience of the mass of the population.
- After serving two years of her sentence, she was released on probation.
- As no man can serve two masters we had long been told no wise general tries to fight on two fronts.
- He gave Edberg no chance of breaking him, serving four stunning aces and a massive percentage of first services.
- Newton was released after serving two years in prison.
- Reagan became the first incumbent to serve two terms in the presidency since Dwight D.. Eisenhower in the 1950s.
- She served three consecutive terms from 1877 to 1885, and was noted for her fearlessness and power of debate.
- The new managers saw their administrative responsibilities as serving two purposes.
- This story serves two important purposes.
- I finally realized I could not be all things to all people.
- Andrea felt tremendous pressure to succeed, to continue to be all things to all people.
- Anyway, these compendiums try to be all things to all people.
- For years, the stores had managed to be all things to all people.
- In this sense many of the international firms will try to be all things to all people.
- It is all things to all men ... and this is perhaps its number one axiom.
- No-one is all things to all people, and Anthea is no exception.
- Politicians have to be all things to all people.
- The single truck was all things to all men and women.
- I get the impression the indigenous locals know the travelling people keep disappearing to have some blow, and resent it.
- In the past, pearl fishing was often carried out by travelling people who used a glass-bottomed bucket to locate them.
- There are areas that are perfectly acceptable to the travelling people who use York.
- Wilkins has turned some heads by claiming to be the best football player ever.
- A kiss-and-tell look behind the scenes of a sport always turns heads with book publishers.
- Her tiny waist and substantial bosom turned heads right across the bar.
- My average customer wants to be seen, wants to turn heads.
- None of the Lavenders had ever turned heads.
- She would have turned heads anywhere in a navy blue backless dress which rose just above her knee.
- The blast must have hit solidly all at once and had given them the briefest chance to turn heads only.
an island peopled by hardy sea folk2if a story or someone’s imagination is peopled by people of a particular type, it is full of thembe peopled by/with somebody Her world was peopled with imaginary friends.GRAMMAR People is usually passive.