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
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
There’s another great feeling that I’d like you to familiarize yourself with: the power of compounding with 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
