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
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.
Between July and August, an MQ-9 drone was deployed at South Korea's Gwangju Air Base for training with the host country's air force personnel, aiming to familiarize them with the platform, including the integration of surveillance data captured by the drone. Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 The Anti-Defamation League has an online database of hate symbols and codes that parents and educators can use to familiarize themselves with. Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025 Spend some time familiarizing yourself with the beautiful campus, then take advantage of the plethora of programming that’s available to the public as well as students. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025 Attendees are advised to familiarize themselves with the university’s gun carrying policy. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Sep. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Familiarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/familiarize. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

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
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