familiarize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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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Liar & Spy
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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:
“It was received in a way that not only did we want to change how we, you know, approach today, but also to familiarize ourselves with sustaining the way that this feels moving forward.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 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
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’s important to taste the soy sauce first and familiarize yourself with its flavor and salt content before using it when baking, Lieu advises.
From Salon ● Dec. 13, 2025
“We’ll start with a practice round, so you can familiarize yourself with our button system. Everyone ready? Which of the following is a mammal? A. Cat B. Bird C. Turtle D. Spider.”
From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper
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
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
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
And I’m sure everyone participating in this debate has first familiarized themselves with the long history of political conflicts in the Taiwan Strait.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 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
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
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
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
During another recording break, Kitt attributes Crowe with familiarizing him with music of the era.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 2, 2022
In each new country, I would initially seal myself away in our hotel familiarizing myself with information about the country’s policies, history, and leadership.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
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.
