familiarize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
verb
-
to make (oneself or someone else) familiar, as with a particular subject
-
to make (something) generally known or accepted
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
familiarizationnoun
-
familiarizernoun
-
refamiliarizationnoun
-
refamiliarizeverb (used with object)
-
unfamiliarizedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
familiarizesimple
-
familiarizessimple
-
have familiarizedperfect
-
has familiarizedperfect
-
am familiarizingprogressive
-
are familiarizingprogressive
-
is familiarizingprogressive
-
have been familiarizingperfect progressive
-
has been familiarizingperfect progressive
Past
-
familiarizedsimple
-
had familiarizedperfect
-
was familiarizingprogressive
-
were familiarizingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Week 2 Spelling
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Liar & Spy
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
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
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
As your home is your major asset, think about reverse-mortgage counseling, if only to familiarize yourself with the issue.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 18, 2025
I would learn information and familiarize myself with ways to categorize it along certain topic lines.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
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
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
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
After my previous experience on the horns I had familiarized myself with the Rerum Codex, the University’s official rules.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Moving forward, be sure you’re properly preparing for your interview, meaning you are researching the company and familiarizing yourself with the other players in the industry.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 16, 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
I wasn’t just watching TV, I was talking to other fans online, familiarizing myself with publications and reading critics from every corner of the internet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2023
The exaggerated perils of fictional monsters create strong emotional and behavioral responses, familiarizing us with these reactions for when we have to deal with more down-to-earth dangers.
From Scientific American ● Oct. 20, 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.
