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familiarize

[fuh-mil-yuh-rahyz]
verb (used with object), fa·mil·iar·ized, fa·mil·iar·iz·ing.
  1. to make (onself or another) well-acquainted or conversant with something.
  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), fa·mil·iar·ized, fa·mil·iar·iz·ing.
  1. Archaic. to associate in a familiar way.
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Also especially British, fa·mil·iar·ise.

Origin of familiarize

First recorded in 1600–10; familiar + -ize
Related formsfa·mil·iar·i·za·tion, nounfa·mil·iar·iz·er, nounre·fa·mil·iar·i·za·tion, nounre·fa·mil·iar·ize, verb (used with object), re·fa·mil·iar·ized, re·fa·mil·iar·iz·ing.un·fa·mil·iar·ized, adjective

Synonyms for familiarize

1. accustom, acquaint.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for familiarise

Historical Examples of familiarise

  • There can be no doubt that Darwin has done much to familiarise us with this attitude.

    Evolution in Modern Thought

    Ernst Haeckel

  • Take him round the house, Cornelia, and familiarise him with his new sphere.

    Ten Boys from Dickens

    Kate Dickinson Sweetser

  • But the child died early; and the Emperor began to familiarise himself with the idea of dissolving his own marriage.

  • I have several times thrown open my bedroom window about dawn for an hour to familiarise myself with the outside noises.

  • To familiarise her with the stage, he superintended thirty rehearsals thereon, of each character in which she was to appear.

British Dictionary definitions for familiarise

familiarize

familiarise

verb (tr)
  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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Derived Formsfamiliarization or familiarisation, nounfamiliarizer or familiariser, 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

Word Origin and History for familiarise

v.

chiefly British English spelling of familiarize; for spelling, see -ize. Related: Familiarised; familiarising.

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familiarize

v.

c.1600, "to make well known," from familiar + -ize. Related: Familiarized; familiarizing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper