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
Save Me a Seat
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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:
“To actually familiarize themselves with player experiences. To listen and respond to players, anticipate issues and be willing to lead even when things get uncomfortable.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
Seniors who do own their own home can also look into reverse-mortgage counseling, if only to familiarize themselves with the issue.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 15, 2026
Before diving into specific recipes, it’s important to familiarize yourself with ingredients that can be used in lieu of onions, Chavez says.
From Salon ● Feb. 26, 2026
An intermission bought time to familiarize oneself with text squeezed onto the cellphone screen.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2026
I walked around to familiarize myself with my vicinity.
From "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier" by Ishmael Beah
A jagged, Tarantinian flashback structure slowly familiarizes us with the plotters.
From New York Times ● Apr. 6, 2023
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
This familiarizes children with a variety of foods and makes it more likely for them to enjoy a wider selection of healthful options in the long run.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 11, 2021
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
It's a change from her previous albums "Hot Pink" and Grammy-nominated "Planet Her," which fans familiarized themselves with her pop sound and look.
From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2023
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
The woman told me to bring the food in as they called for it, and I familiarized myself with the kitchen so that I could act quickly when called upon.
From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright
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
By familiarizing yourself with local tenant protection laws and planning as best as possible, you can help find yourself with sky-high rent far above everyday market prices.
From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2025
Cunningham, who had also played and coached under Wooden, didn’t need any familiarizing with the frugal ways of UCLA’s athletic department.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 10, 2023
I’m near Old Town, familiarizing myself with the River Run route, and when I turn, I see a woman with her two children waving at me from across the street.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
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.
