people

I UK [ˈpiːp(ə)l] / US [ˈpɪp(ə)l] noun
Word forms "people":
singular people plural peoples
***

Metaphor:

People are like animals, especially when they behave in an unpleasant way. The soldiers were all drunk, and they behaved like animals. ♦ You greedy pig! ♦ That little rat has been spying on us. ♦ Don't talk to me, you miserable worm. ♦ It's time to take action against these sharks who prey on the poor. ♦ The press were gathering outside her house like vultures. ♦ I know what you're up to, you dirty dog. ♦ His wife was a mousy little woman. ♦ You little monkey, have you been playing with my stuff again? ♦ There's nothing to be afraid of, you silly goose. ♦ She's a very original writer, and has never been one to follow the herd. ♦ He seems tough, but he's a pussycat when you get to know him. ♦ Most people are like sheep – they just do what everyone else does. ♦ He described his opponents as dinosaurs, out of touch with present day reality. ➡ language

1) the plural of person

young/old people

a group/crowd of people

Thousands of people marched in protest.

The accident left three people dead and many injured.

People were running everywhere.

many/few/some people:

Many people here would agree with you.

a) [plural] used for referring to humans in general

People tend to think that doctors know everything.

b) [plural] men and women who work for the same organization, do the same type of work, or share the same interests

military/religious/financial people

scientifically-minded people

2) the people

[plural] ordinary people who are not members of the government or the upper classes

On this issue, government has failed to listen to the people.

a man/woman of the people:

Many thought the governor was a man of the people (= a leader who cares about ordinary people).

3) [countable] a group consisting of all the persons who belong to a nation, religion, or race: can be followed by a singular or plural verb

the Japanese/Spanish/German people

They are a proud, dignified people.

Over thousands of years, peoples from central Asia came to settle here.

4) the people

legal the lawyers representing the US government or a US state in a criminal case

the case of the people versus the Jameson Financial Company

5) [plural] mainly American spoken used when you are talking to the people in a room or group, especially when you want them to listen

Okay, people. Let's not panic.

•

people like someone/like that — spoken used for comparing persons with the same qualities or in the same situation

People like that really annoy me.

We need more people like her in politics.

- someone's people

See:

thing

II UK [ˈpiːp(ə)l] / US [ˈpɪp(ə)l] verb [transitive]
Word forms "people":
present tense I/you/we/they people he/she/it peoples present participle peopling past tense peopled past participle peopled

[usually passive] to be the people who exist in a place, situation, or period of time

Hunters peopled these forests long ago.

a sparsely peopled area

be peopled with someone:

Her childhood was peopled with strange aunts and uncles.