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.
This has fueled the ‘spend not sell’ movement, in which builders seek to familiarize users with earning and spending their bitcoin rather than trading and falling for get-rich-quick schemes. — Abubakar Nur Khalil, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 With few resources to train or familiarize staff with AI, agencies are often left with a workforce frustrated or unequipped to experiment and use it. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 June 2026 Deputies plan to conduct demonstrations at schools and community events to familiarize the public with the technology, McCue said. — Reeti Malhotra, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026 Sixto emphasized the importance of bringing financial education to Cubans on the island to familiarize them with how a stock exchange operates and the prospects for acquiring shares. — Sarah Moreno june 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 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

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Browse Nearby Words

familiarization
familiarize
familiarly
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Cite this Entry

“Familiarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familiarize. Accessed 7 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on familiarize

Nglish: Translation of familiarize for Spanish Speakers

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