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View synonyms for familiar

familiar

[ fuh-mil-yer ]

adjective

  1. commonly or generally known or seen:

    a familiar sight.

  2. well-acquainted; thoroughly conversant:

    to be familiar with a subject.

  3. informal; easygoing; unceremonious; unconstrained:

    to write in a familiar style.

  4. closely intimate or personal:

    a familiar friend; to be on familiar terms.

  5. unduly intimate; too personal; taking liberties; presuming:

    The duchess disliked familiar servants.

    Synonyms: bold, forward

  6. domesticated; tame.
  7. of or relating to a family or household.


noun

  1. a familiar friend or associate.
  2. familiar spirit. Witchcraft and Demonology. a supernatural spirit or demon, often in the form of an animal, supposed to serve and aid a witch or other individual.
  3. Roman Catholic Church.
    1. an officer of the Inquisition, employed to arrest accused or suspected persons.
    2. a person who belongs to the household of the pope or of a bishop, rendering domestic though not menial service.

familiar

/ fəˈmɪlɪə /

adjective

  1. well-known; easily recognized

    a familiar figure

  2. frequent or customary

    a familiar excuse

  3. postpositivefoll bywith acquainted
  4. friendly; informal
  5. close; intimate
  6. more intimate than is acceptable; presumptuous
  7. an archaic word for familial
“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


noun

  1. Also calledfamiliar spirit a supernatural spirit often assuming animal form, supposed to attend and aid a witch, wizard, etc
  2. a person, attached to the household of the pope or a bishop, who renders service in return for support
  3. an officer of the Inquisition who arrested accused persons
  4. a friend or frequent companion
“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
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Derived Forms

  • faˈmiliarness, noun
  • faˈmiliarly, adverb
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Other Words From

  • fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • fa·mil·iar·ness noun
  • non·fa·mil·iar adjective
  • non·fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • o·ver·fa·mil·iar adjective
  • o·ver·fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • pre·fa·mil·iar adjective
  • pre·fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • qua·si-fa·mil·iar adjective
  • qua·si-fa·mil·iar·ly adverb
  • ul·tra·fa·mil·iar adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar1

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Latin familiāris “of a household,” family, -ar 1
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Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar1

C14: from Latin familiāris domestic, from familia family
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Idioms and Phrases

see have a familiar ring .
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Synonym Study

Familiar, confidential, intimate suggest a long association between persons. Familiar means well-acquainted with another person: a familiar friend. Confidential suggests a sense of mutual trust that extends to the sharing of confidences and secrets: a confidential adviser. Intimate suggests close acquaintance or connection, often based on interest, sympathy, or affection: intimate and affectionate letters.
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Example Sentences

One of the people familiar with Pence’s prep work said several debate-related meetings were slated to be held Thursday.

Obviously, McDonald’s wants to be accommodating of customers, especially during a pandemic, and plenty of McDonald’s workers were probably already familiar with Travis Scott.

From Eater

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, Commerzbank AG, HSBC Holdings Plc, ING Groep NV and Societe Generale SA are working on the deal, according to the person familiar.

From Fortune

Two congressional aides and a separate official familiar with the meeting confirmed Biden’s appearance with Democratic senators, which was first reported by Politico.

Cloud-data software maker Snowflake priced its initial public offering at $120 a share, above the marketed range, according to a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.

From Fortune

Lalo said he reported the kidnapping to his ICE handlers, which was confirmed by a former federal agent familiar with the case.

It was one of the few things that felt familiar to him after being away from the outside world since 1975.

When ‘Downton Abbey’ returns Sunday night, its fashion fans are in for a familiar treat.

In the midst of the clubbiness, there is a heimishe (Yiddish for familiar, old school) quality.

More than bawdy, though, The Ball adds a familiar unpretentiousness to trendy locales like Tao, Lavo, The Park, and Dream Hotel.

Several pioneers familiar with the facts of the tragedy at the time of its occurrence were also present.

He was tall and of familiar figure, and the firelight was playing in the tossed curls of his short, fair hair.

He glanced aside, and saw an exceedingly pretty, dark face, which looked vaguely familiar.

Could this be the safe old house in which childish days had passed, in which all around were always friendly and familiar faces?

A small boy of three years and nine months on receiving from his nurse the familiar order, "Come here!"

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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