familiarize
Americanverb (used with object)
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familiarizes,
present (3rd person singular)
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familiarized,
past participle, past
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familiarizing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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familiarizes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
familiarized,
past participle, past
-
familiarizing
present participle
verb
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to make (oneself or someone else) familiar, as with a particular subject
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to make (something) generally known or accepted
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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familiarizationnoun
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familiarizernoun
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refamiliarizationnoun
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refamiliarizeverb (used with object)
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unfamiliarizedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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familiarizesimple
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familiarizessimple
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have familiarizedperfect
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has familiarizedperfect
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am familiarizingprogressive
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are familiarizingprogressive
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is familiarizingprogressive
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have been familiarizingperfect progressive
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has been familiarizingperfect progressive
Past
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familiarizedsimple
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had familiarizedperfect
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was familiarizingprogressive
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were familiarizingprogressive
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had been familiarizingperfect progressive
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
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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.
See Examples For:
Seniors who own their own home can consider getting reverse-mortgage counseling, if only to familiarize themselves with the option.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026
Without needing to build a website or familiarize themselves with a forum, any netizen could start or join a conversation at any time.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
Prior to getting “Backrooms” greenlighted, Parsons and the team at Oddfellows did a test shoot, which allowed an untested virtuoso the opportunity to familiarize himself with how a professional crew works.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 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
It was to be a kind of scout, to familiarize ourselves with the island.
From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs
She familiarizes herself with an Ulla Johnson or a Proenza Schouler because she comes to Rent the Runway.
From The Verge ● Jul. 26, 2022
Start with “Know Before You Go,” a free online program that familiarizes would-be backcountry users with the risks associated with backcountry skiing and riding.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 11, 2021
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
Ideally, a player familiarizes himself with a new position during spring training.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 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
After Hirono said that she had just familiarized Bondi with Trump’s statement, Bondi again insisted that she was not aware of the remarks and had no further comment.
From Salon ● Jan. 15, 2025
Business was steady, and working long shifts behind the counter familiarized them with the neighborhood and community.
From Slate ● Dec. 4, 2024
She added that it was “pretty cool” that many of Swift’s fans are getting familiarized with football because of the relationship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2023
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
Although voters in general are poorly informed about how elections are conducted, they can and do respond to clear information familiarizing them with election processes.
From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026
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
The character of Biff Dipper, an engineer, will be found in the ride’s preshow, familiarizing guests with the story of the asteroid that spells impending doom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 6, 2026
After I finished familiarizing myself with the area, I sat down and tried to think about how I was going to get out of the forest.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
