Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

familiarize

American  
[fuh-mil-yuh-rahyz] / fəˈmɪl yəˌraɪz /
especially British, familiarise

verb (used with object)

familiarized, familiarizing
  1. to make (onself or another person) well-acquainted or conversant with something.

    Synonyms:
    acquaint, accustom
  2. to make (something) well-known; bring into common knowledge or use.

  3. Archaic. to make familiar; establish (a person) in friendly intimacy.


verb (used without object)

familiarized, familiarizing
  1. Archaic. to associate in a familiar way.

familiarize British  
/ fəˈmɪljəˌraɪz /

verb

  1. to make (oneself or someone else) familiar, as with a particular subject

  2. to make (something) generally known or accepted

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • familiarization noun
  • familiarizer noun
  • refamiliarization noun
  • refamiliarize verb (used with object)
  • unfamiliarized adjective

Etymology

Origin of familiarize

First recorded in 1600–10; familiar + -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Before diving into specific recipes, it’s important to familiarize yourself with ingredients that can be used in lieu of onions, Chavez says.

From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026

You should also familiarize yourself with inheritance laws.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 28, 2026

It’s important to taste the soy sauce first and familiarize yourself with its flavor and salt content before using it when baking, Lieu advises.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2025

Greene’s goals are to familiarize herself with markets so she will be comfortable with investing once she graduates from college and starts working full time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

“We’ll start with a practice round, so you can familiarize yourself with our button system. Everyone ready? Which of the following is a mammal? A. Cat B. Bird C. Turtle D. Spider.”

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper