familiarize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to make (oneself or someone else) familiar, as with a particular subject
-
to make (something) generally known or accepted
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
refamiliarizationnoun
-
unfamiliarizedadjective
-
refamiliarizeverb (used with object)
-
familiarizationnoun
-
familiarizernoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
have familiarizedperfect
-
has familiarizedperfect 3rd person singular
-
has been familiarizingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
are familiarizingprogressive
-
is familiarizingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
am familiarizingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been familiarizingperfect progressive
-
familiarizingparticiple
-
familiarizessingular 3rd person
Past
-
had familiarizedperfect
-
were familiarizingprogressive plural
-
familiarizedparticiple
-
was familiarizingprogressive singular
-
had been familiarizingperfect progressive
-
familiarizedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of familiarize
Explanation
To familiarize yourself with something is to learn about it or become comfortable with it. Once you familiarize yourself with the unusual spices, you'll probably find Indian food delicious. You can familiarize yourself with the alphabet and particular sounds of a language before you start learning to speak it, and you can also familiarize a young child with the rules before her first trip to an art museum. Originally, familiarize meant "to make well-known," from familiar, from the Latin familiaris, "familiar or intimate," and the verb-forming suffix -ize.
Vocabulary lists containing familiarize
Save Me a Seat
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Week 2 Spelling
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Liar & Spy
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Familiarize yourself with the analytical tools that most brokerages now provide free of charge.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026
Familiarize yourself with the lottery system. Recreation.gov has a lottery system for some of the most popular attractions on federal land.
From New York Times • Jul. 29, 2022
Familiarize yourself with the fauna in the park or region you plan to visit.
From Washington Post • Jun. 22, 2022
Familiarize yourself with Washington’s infamous tree wells and deep snow, and COVID-19 restrictions vary by resort or county.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 26, 2022
Familiarize the student with the past and present literature of his branch.
From Anthropology As a Science and as a Branch of University Education in the United States by Brinton, Daniel Garrison
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
