familiarize

American  

[fuh-mil-yuh-rahyz] / fəˈmɪl jəˌraɪz /

especially British, familiarise

verb (used with object)

• familiarizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• familiarized,
  past participle,  past
• familiarizing
  present participle

1. to make (onself or another person) well-acquainted or conversant with something.

   Synonyms:

   acquaint, accustom

2. to make (something) well-known; bring into common knowledge or use.

3. Archaic. to make familiar; establish (a person) in friendly intimacy.

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verb (used without object)

• familiarizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• familiarized,
  past participle,  past
• familiarizing
  present participle

1. Archaic. to associate in a familiar way.

familiarize British  

/ fəˈmɪljəˌraɪz /

verb

1. to make (oneself or someone else) familiar, as with a particular subject

2. to make (something) generally known or accepted

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• familiarization
  noun
• familiarizer
  noun
• refamiliarization
  noun
• refamiliarize
  verb (used with object)
• unfamiliarized
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• familiarizing
  present
• familiarized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• familiarize
  simple
• familiarizes
  simple
• have familiarized
  perfect
• has familiarized
  perfect
• am familiarizing
  progressive
• are familiarizing
  progressive
• is familiarizing
  progressive
• have been familiarizing
  perfect progressive
• has been familiarizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• familiarized
  simple
• had familiarized
  perfect
• was familiarizing
  progressive
• were familiarizing
  progressive
• had been familiarizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will familiarize
  simple
• will have familiarized
  perfect
• will be familiarizing
  progressive
• will have been familiarizing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of familiarize

First recorded in 1600–10; familiar + -ize

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

familiarize familiarizes familiarized familiarizing

So please, familiarize yourself with it and use it.

From Salon ● Jul. 19, 2026

But the 21-year-old in Calgary says he did familiarize himself with the Wikipedia page.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

There’s another great feeling that I’d like you to familiarize yourself with: the power of compounding with your Roth IRA.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 5, 2026

And there’s another great feeling that I’d like you to familiarize yourself with: the power of compounding within your Roth IRA.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 5, 2026

I walked around to familiarize myself with my vicinity.

From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah

Max Walker-Silverman, who wrote and directed this lovely first feature, familiarizes us with Faye’s daily routine before he even gives us a good look at her face.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2022

She familiarizes herself with an Ulla Johnson or a Proenza Schouler because she comes to Rent the Runway.

From The Verge ● Jul. 26, 2022

Kurilla, confirmed to his post in February, is traveling throughout Central Asia this month, meeting with American diplomats and foreign counterparts as he familiarizes himself with what has been one of the Pentagon’s highest-profile assignments.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 15, 2022

In 2019, there are only five major conferences, but there are enough broadcast outlets to ensure that no announcing team ever familiarizes itself with any individual program.

From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2019

This chapter also familiarizes the reader with each method’s philosophy and principles, unique pedagogy, and practices and activities.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

They also reviewed the spacecraft's interior layout, tested communication systems, and familiarized themselves with the sounds produced by Dragon's fans and pumps.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 2, 2026

Business was steady, and working long shifts behind the counter familiarized them with the neighborhood and community.

From Slate ● Dec. 4, 2024

She noted that she had familiarized herself with the role and those who had previously played it before going forward with her own interpretation and performance.

From New York Times ● Jan. 29, 2023

"We are just trying to get them familiarized with our language and culture," she wrote on Jan. 29, 2022.

From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2022

I don’t remind him that I still haven’t even seen Mr. X, let alone familiarized myself with his luggage.

From "Liar & Spy" by Rebecca Stead

The slowdown drill is Taiwan’s first, the office of the president said, aimed at familiarizing the public with “how to ensure uninterrupted communication for themselves and their families in emergencies.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

Start by familiarizing yourself with the fundamentals of the stock that is the focus of the article you’re reading.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 4, 2026

Covering the criminal justice system in Louisiana often means familiarizing myself with things people in other parts of the country might find shocking.

From Salon ● Sep. 3, 2025

His attorney, Jay Mykytiuk, said he was still familiarizing himself with the facts of the case and didn’t have immediate comment.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 7, 2024

Valentina, Polina, and Marina spent the summer training for the flight and familiarizing themselves with the Rodina.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein

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Related Words

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