Definition of déjà vu
1a : the illusion of remembering scenes and events when experienced for the first timeb : a feeling that one has seen or heard something before Despite a blond, swept-back mane all his own, Fonda looks startlingly like his father, Henry … . He even moves like his father, only dispelling the eerie feeling of déjà vu when he opens his mouth. — Peter Biskind
2 : something overly or unpleasantly familiar The team's poor start to the season was déjà vu for its long-suffering fans.
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Examples of déjà vu in a Sentence
I entered the room and immediately felt a sense of déjà vu.
When the car broke down again, it was déjà vu.
The rise in housing costs is déjà vu all over again.
Origin and Etymology of déjà vu
French, adjective, literally, already seen
First Known Use: 1903
DÉJÀ VU Defined for English Language Learners
déjà vu
playDefinition of déjà vu for English Language Learners
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: the feeling that you have already experienced something that is actually happening for the first time
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: something that has happened many times before : something that is very familiar
Learn More about déjà vu
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See words that rhyme with déjà vu Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about déjà vu
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