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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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
“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
You’ll also want to familiarize yourself with the current market.
From MarketWatch ● May 29, 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
The only thing all the intended disorientation had accomplished was to familiarize her with the building.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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
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
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
Over six years of research, Dodson familiarized herself with every aspect of the novel.
From New York Times ● Apr. 7, 2023
"We are just trying to get them familiarized with our language and culture," she wrote on Jan. 29, 2022.
From Salon ● Nov. 22, 2022
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
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
She said it is where her children have grown up, familiarizing themselves with every inch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 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
Valentina, Polina, and Marina spent the summer training for the flight and familiarizing themselves with the Rodina.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
