Word
familiar
Phoneticsfa·mil·iar, stress on the second syllable
US/fəˈmɪɫjɝ/
UK/fəmˈɪliə/
Definitions
01well-known
B1 · Intermediate
adj. easy to recognize because you have seen, heard, or experienced it before.
adj. well-known from previous experience or encounter; easily recognized.
日本語:おなじみ※
Español:familiar
“The smell of fresh bread was familiar and made him feel at home.”
“The melody was hauntingly familiar, though she could not recall exactly where she had heard it during her childhood.”
Usage
Commonly used with the preposition 'with' for the person knowing, or 'to' for the thing being known.
Pitfall
I am familiar to this city.
I am familiar with this city.
Use 'familiar with' when you are the person who knows the thing. Use 'familiar to' when the thing is known by people (e.g., 'The song is familiar to me').
Synonyms
Antonyms
02friendly or informal
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. behaving in a very friendly or informal way, sometimes too much so.
adj. characterized by intimacy or informality; occasionally carries a negative connotation of being overly bold or presumptuous.
“He spoke to his boss in a familiar way that surprised his coworkers.”
“The waiter's overly familiar tone was intended to be charming, but it actually made the diners feel quite uncomfortable.”
03supernatural spirit
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Literary
n. a spirit, often taking the shape of an animal like a cat, that serves or helps a witch.
n. a supernatural spirit or demon supposed to attend on or serve a person, traditionally a witch.
“In the old stories, the witch's black cat was actually her familiar.”
“Folklore often depicts the familiar as a bridge between the mundane world and the occult, manifesting as a common household pet to avoid suspicion.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “familiar” in context.
Verb
01. become familiar
“It takes time to become familiar with the new software system.”
verb + adj
02. feel familiar
“Walking through my old neighborhood felt strangely familiar.”
verb + adj
03. look familiar
“The handwriting on the envelope looked familiar.”
verb + adj
04. make familiar
“The training program aims to make staff familiar with safety protocols.”
verb + adj
05. sound familiar
“Does the name 'Sarah Miller' sound familiar to you?”
verb + adj
Adjective
06. instantly familiar
“The smell of baking bread was instantly familiar and comforting.”
adv + adj
07. strikingly familiar
“The melody sounded strikingly familiar, though I couldn't name the song.”
adv + adj
Noun
08. familiar face
“It was a relief to see a familiar face in the crowded room.”
adj + noun
09. familiar territory
“The team is back in familiar territory after winning the semi-finals.”
adj + noun
10. a familiar ring to
“His excuses had a familiar ring to them.”
11. familiarize yourself with
“Please familiarize yourself with the rules before the game begins.”
12. on familiar terms
“He is on familiar terms with several members of the board.”
Etymology
From Middle English familiar, familier, from Latin familiāris (“pertaining to servants; pertaining to the household”). By surface analysis, family + -ar. Piecewise doublet of familial. Displaced native Old English hīwcūþ.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/familiar
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0