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View synonyms for

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: ,

  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

/ əˈɪɪə /

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

  • ڲˈԱ, noun
  • ڲˈ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • ڲ··· adverb
  • ڲ···Ա noun
  • ԴDz·ڲ·· adjective
  • non·ڲ··· adverb
  • ··ڲ·· adjective
  • o·ver·ڲ··· adverb
  • ·ڲ·· adjective
  • pre·ڲ··· adverb
  • ܲ·-ڲ·· adjective
  • qua·si-ڲ··· adverb
  • ܱ·ٰ·ڲ·· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of familiar1

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

Origin of familiar1

C14: from Latin ڲ 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

Examples have not been reviewed.

Paramount’s board during an April 18 meeting agreed on parameters for a possible settlement with Trump, according to two people familiar with the discussions who were not authorized to comment.

From

Wylie‘s exit was “strictly a football decision,” according to a person familiar with the situation not authorized to speak publicly.

From

These will be familiar to many from the pandemic, when millions sent off swabs in the post to confirm whether they had Covid.

From

Can you describe All Up In My Grill a bit for any readers who aren't familiar with it?

From

Sources familiar with the investigation say much of the focus has been on whether an eight-acre blaze sparked by fireworks a week earlier that firefighters thought they had extinguished in the same area had reignited.

From

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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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