familiarize

verb

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

transitive verb

1
: to make known or familiar
Shakespeare … familiarizes the wonderfulSamuel Johnson
2
: to make well acquainted
familiarize students with good literature
familiarization noun

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 Get a head start by familiarizing yourself with SkinStore's very best. Sarah Han, Allure, 20 Nov. 2023 The lesson: When insurance denies your claim for a medical device, familiarize yourself with the appeals process. Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 28 Feb. 2024 Visiting fire watch guards is a great place to familiarize yourself with these professional services. Kyle Russell, The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Be sure to bring your best walking shoes and familiarize yourself with the city’s layout and points of interest prior to arrival. Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 18 Feb. 2024 Detailed Study Required: To succeed in FAR, candidates must not only familiarize themselves with a wide range of topics but also understand them in depth. Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2024 Conversely, when working at a legacy organization, be sure to familiarize yourself with the key hires already in place. Sujata Bajaj, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024 Know your rights Before raising a complaint, consider familiarizing yourself with the noise laws in your area. Annie Midori Atherton, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024 The first is to familiarize yourself with how the Academy Awards work. Vulture, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'familiarize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of familiarize was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near familiarize

Cite this Entry

“Familiarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familiarize. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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 noun

More from Merriam-Webster on familiarize

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!