familiarize

verb

fa·​mil·​iar·​ize fə-ˈmil-yə-ˌrīz How to pronounce familiarize (audio)
familiarized; familiarizing
Synonyms of familiarizenext

transitive verb

1
: to make known or familiar
… Shakespeare … familiarizes the wonderful …—Samuel Johnson
2
: to make well acquainted
familiarize students with good literature
familiarization
fə-ˌmil-yə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce familiarize (audio)
noun

Synonyms of familiarize

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Examples of familiarize in a Sentence

I've been slowly familiarizing myself with the neighborhood. the general's day-to-day duties included familiarizing the president on international developments
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But at this stage, Gilman, who has five years experience but came in as a free agent, is still familiarizing himself with the playbook. — Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2026 At the end of the day, Enterprise is a show best enjoyed by Star Trek fans who like to pore over the Memory Alpha wiki and familiarize themselves with Trek minutiae. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026 The following are key fridge components with which to familiarize yourself. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026 The exercise also encouraged residents to sign up for emergency alerts, familiarize themselves with evacuation routes and think through critical decisions before an actual wildfire threatened their homes. — Ashley Bosa, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for familiarize

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of familiarize was in 1593

Rhymes for familiarize

See All Rhymes for familiarize

Browse Nearby Words

familiarization
familiarize
familiarly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Familiarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familiarize. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

familiarize

verb
fa·​mil·​iar·​ize fə-ˈmil-yə-ˌrīz How to pronounce familiarize (audio)
familiarized; familiarizing
: to make familiar
familiarize yourself with the place
familiarization
-ˌmil-yə-rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce familiarize (audio)
noun

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Nglish: Translation of familiarize for Spanish Speakers

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