familiar
fuh-MIHL-ee-uh
Familiar (adjective) means Well known to you, or easy to recognise. Example: “That tune sounds familiar, but I can't place it.”
adjective
1
Well known to you, or easy to recognise.
"That tune sounds familiar, but I can't place it."
"She felt a familiar sense of dread before the exam."
"After years away, the streets of my old town still looked familiar."
2
Having good knowledge of something through experience.
"He's familiar with the local traffic laws."
"Are you familiar with this spreadsheet program?"
"The nurses were familiar with the new equipment after a week."
noun
1
A spirit believed to serve or accompany a witch, often in animal form.
"In the story, the witch's black cat was her familiar."
"In the old tale, a raven served as the sorceress's familiar."
"The child dressed as a witch and carried a toy familiar."
How to use familiar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething you recognise or know well, or (as a noun) a witch's magical animal companion.
Common mistake
Familiar WITH something, not familiar TO something, when talking about knowledge ("familiar with the rules").
Common pairings
familiar face
familiar with
sound familiar
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Word forms
- Plural
- familiars
- Comparative
- more familiar
- Superlative
- most familiar
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
That tune sounds _____, but I can't place it.
Etymology
From Latin familiaris, "of the household" — originally describing someone as close as family.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for familiar
See all rhymes for familiar →Frequently asked questions
What does “familiar” mean?
The word “familiar” means well known to you, or easy to recognise. In plain terms, something you recognise or know well, or (as a noun) a witch's magical animal companion.
How do you pronounce “familiar”?
“Familiar” is pronounced fuh-MIHL-ee-uh (/fəˈmɪl.jɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “familiar” in a sentence?
Here is “familiar” used in a sentence: “That tune sounds familiar, but I can't place it.”
What is another word for “familiar”?
Words with a similar meaning to “familiar” include accustomed, habitual, known, predictable, routine and wonted.
What is the opposite of “familiar”?
The opposite of “familiar” — its antonyms — are ignorant, unfamiliar, unknown, unacquainted and cold.
What part of speech is “familiar”?
Depending on how it is used, “familiar” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “familiar” come from?
The word “familiar” comes from Latin. From Latin familiaris, "of the household" — originally describing someone as close as family.
Is “familiar” a common word?
“Familiar” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between familiar and famous?
Both come from ideas of being known, but they differ in scale and feeling. Familiar means well known to you personally — a face, a route, a song you recognise. Famous means known to very many people, widely celebrated. Something can be familiar to you alone yet not famous at all.
What is the opposite of familiar?
The main opposites are "unfamiliar," "strange," and "unknown" — describing something you do not recognise or have no experience of. "Foreign" and "novel" work too when the thing is new or unexpected. Each captures the sense of encountering something for the first time.
What is the difference between 'familiar with' and 'familiar to'?
The two phrasings flip the direction. You are "familiar with" something when you know it — "I'm familiar with the rules." Something is "familiar to" you when it is recognisable — "the tune is familiar to me." One centres on your knowledge, the other on the thing being recognised.
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