déjà vu
noun
dé·jà vu
ˌdā-ˌzhä-ˈvü 
-ˈvᵫ
-ˈvᵫ
1
a
: the illusion of remembering scenes and events when experienced for the first time
b
: 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
Peter Biskind2
: something overly or unpleasantly familiar
The team's poor start to the season was déjà vu for its long-suffering fans.
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
But the idea of another talented young player becoming disgruntled is the worst kind of deja vu for Sabres fans.
—Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 20 June 2025
When one genre becomes successful, other developers ape that aesthetic, and that creates deja vu projects that feel like an experience gamers have played before.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 May 2025
There is an early sense of deja vu about Everton’s summer window.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 21 June 2025
There has been a familiar sense of deja vu at the City Ground in recent weeks amid interest from Manchester City in Gibbs-White.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 6 June 2025
This was not a sense of disbelief, but one of deja vu.
—Jessy Parker Humphreys, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024
There’s a long way to go before any real 2021 deja vu begins setting in.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Today, the rise of AI is giving me a feeling of deja vu all over again.
—Thomas H. Ruggie, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Over a decade later, those of us who remember the original challenge are now getting deja vu.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
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.
Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 20 June 2025
When one genre becomes successful, other developers ape that aesthetic, and that creates deja vu projects that feel like an experience gamers have played before.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 30 May 2025
There is an early sense of deja vu about Everton’s summer window.
—Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 21 June 2025
There has been a familiar sense of deja vu at the City Ground in recent weeks amid interest from Manchester City in Gibbs-White.
—Paul Taylor, New York Times, 6 June 2025
This was not a sense of disbelief, but one of deja vu.
—Jessy Parker Humphreys, The Athletic, 4 Aug. 2024
There’s a long way to go before any real 2021 deja vu begins setting in.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
Today, the rise of AI is giving me a feeling of deja vu all over again.
—Thomas H. Ruggie, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Over a decade later, those of us who remember the original challenge are now getting deja vu.
—Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Déjà vu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/d%C3%A9j%C3%A0%20vu. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
déjà vu
noun
dé·jà vu
ˌdā-ˌzhä-ˈvü
-ˈvᵫ̅
: a feeling that one has seen or heard something before
Etymology
French, literally, "already seen"
Medical Definition
déjà vu
noun
dé·jà vu
ˌdā-ˌzhä-ˈv(y)ü, dā-zhȧ-vᵫ̅
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share