familiar
commonly or generally known or seen: a familiar sight.
well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant: to be familiar with a subject.
informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained: to write in a familiar style.
closely intimate or personal: a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.
unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming: The duchess disliked familiar servants.
domesticated; tame.
of or relating to a family or household.
a familiar friend or associate.
Also called familiar spirit .Witchcraft and Demonology. a supernatural spirit or demon, often in the form of an animal, supposed to serve and aid a witch or other individual.
Roman Catholic Church.
an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.
a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.
Origin of familiar
1synonym study For familiar
Other words for familiar
Other words from familiar
- fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- fa·mil·iar·ness, noun
- non·fa·mil·iar, adjective
- non·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- o·ver·fa·mil·iar, adjective
- o·ver·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- pre·fa·mil·iar, adjective
- pre·fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- qua·si-fa·mil·iar, adjective
- qua·si-fa·mil·iar·ly, adverb
- ul·tra·fa·mil·iar, adjective
Words Nearby familiar
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use familiar in a sentence
One of the people familiar with Pence’s prep work said several debate-related meetings were slated to be held Thursday.
Former Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is working with Pence on debate preparations, people familiar with sessions say | Robert Costa | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostObviously, McDonald’s wants to be accommodating of customers, especially during a pandemic, and plenty of McDonald’s workers were probably already familiar with Travis Scott.
McDonald’s Teaches Employees Travis Scott Catchphrases Because of TikTok Trend | Jaya Saxena | September 17, 2020 | EaterBanco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Commerzbank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc, ING Groep NV and Societe Generale SA are working on the deal, according to the person familiar.
Volkswagen is the latest carmaker to tap the red-hot green-bond market to fund its EV ambitions | Bernhard Warner | September 16, 2020 | FortuneTwo congressional aides and a separate official familiar with the meeting confirmed Biden’s appearance with Democratic senators, which was first reported by Politico.
Trump, in town hall, says he wouldn’t have done anything differently on pandemic | Colby Itkowitz, Josh Dawsey, Felicia Sonmez, John Wagner | September 16, 2020 | Washington PostCloud-data software maker Snowflake priced its initial public offering at $120 a share, above the marketed range, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.
Lalo said he reported the kidnapping to his ICE handlers, which was confirmed by a former federal agent familiar with the case.
An Informant, a Missing American, and Juarez’s House of Death: Inside the 12-Year Cold Case of David Castro | Bill Conroy | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTIt was one of the few things that felt familiar to him after being away from the outside world since 1975.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside | Justin Rohrlich | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWhen ‘Downton Abbey’ returns Sunday night, its fashion fans are in for a familiar treat.
In the midst of the clubbiness, there is a heimishe (Yiddish for familiar, old school) quality.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots | Emily Shire | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTMore than bawdy, though, The Ball adds a familiar unpretentiousness to trendy locales like Tao, Lavo, The Park, and Dream Hotel.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots | Emily Shire | December 26, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSeveral pioneers familiar with the facts of the tragedy at the time of its occurrence were also present.
Among the Sioux | R. J. CreswellHe was tall and of familiar figure, and the firelight was playing in the tossed curls of his short, fair hair.
The Bondboy | George W. (George Washington) OgdenHe glanced aside, and saw an exceedingly pretty, dark face, which looked vaguely familiar.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. WilliamsonCould this be the safe old house in which childish days had passed, in which all around were always friendly and familiar faces?
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuA small boy of three years and nine months on receiving from his nurse the familiar order, "Come here!"
Children's Ways | James Sully
British Dictionary definitions for familiar
/ (fəˈmɪlɪə) /
well-known; easily recognized: a familiar figure
frequent or customary: a familiar excuse
(postpositive foll by with) acquainted
friendly; informal
close; intimate
more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous
an archaic word for familial
Also called: familiar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc
a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support
an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons
a friend or frequent companion
Origin of familiar
1Derived forms of familiar
- familiarly, adverb
- familiarness, noun
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 familiar
see have a familiar ring.
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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