familiarize

verb

fa·​mil·​iar·​ize fə-ˈmil-yə-ˌrīz 

familiarized; familiarizing

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 

noun

Synonyms of familiarize

• inform
• advise
• tell
• instruct

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

Before starting seeds, familiarize yourself with all the specific requirements of each seed. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Jan. 2026

The best way to increase your chances of responding quickly and calmly is to familiarize yourself with basic pet first aid techniques. —Lisa Bloch, Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2026

Take the time, then, to calculate your costs with precision and familiarize yourself with the product's timely pros and cons to ensure maximum borrowing success. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2026

The job, Nguyen said, familiarized him with the inner workings of restaurants and their safety regulations. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for familiarize

• actualize
• antagonize
• apologise
• apologize
• capitalize
• categorize
• characterize
• commercialize
• conceptualize
• contrariwise
• criminalize
• decentralize

Kids Definition

familiarize

verb

fa·​mil·​iar·​ize fə-ˈmil-yə-ˌrīz 

familiarized; familiarizing

: to make familiar

familiarize yourself with the place

familiarization

-ˌmil-yə-rə-ˈzā-shən 

noun