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

• acquaint
• advise
• apprise
• brief
• catch up
• clear
• clue (in)
• enlighten
• fill in
• hip
• inform
• instruct
• tell
• verse
• wise (up)

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

At the Royal Free, Bean served on the medical wards while Stimson familiarized herself with British surgical practices, working alongside the head orthopedic surgeon. —Catherine Musemeche, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Feb. 2025

Additionally, taxpayers should familiarize themselves with the new 2025 tax brackets, which may affect refund amounts. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 1 Feb. 2025

Experts recommend parents familiarize themselves with ESRB ratings to ensure age-appropriate content and utilize parental controls on gaming platforms. —Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024

The agency expects taxpayers will need more time to familiarize themselves with the form and the apps will need more time to separate business from personal transactions.. —Brian Sloan, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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