Synonyms for

Familiar

Verb / fʌˈmɪljɜ: / Another word for familiar — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

commonly known or recognized

Synonyms & similar words

conversant intimate familiarspirit strange comrade associate fellow companion unfamiliar known recognized famous common usual prevalent everyday regular customary typical ordinary well-known established popular frequent repeated routine habitual traditional conventional

Synonyms by register

Formal

acquainted cognizant apprised conversant

Informal

known regular common everyday

Literary

wonted household

Antonyms

unfamiliar strange unknown alien new uncommon foreign

Common collocations

  • familiar with
  • familiar face
  • familiar ground
  • familiar territory
  • familiar surroundings
  • familiar tune
  • familiar object

Word family

noun familiarity
adverb familiarly

Usage note

Often used with 'with' to indicate knowledge or acquaintance. Can sometimes imply a lack of novelty or excitement.

Example sentences

  1. The park is familiar to me because I go there often.
  2. The song is very familiar, I've heard it a lot before.
  3. The smell of cookies baking is familiar to many people.
  4. The teacher's handwriting is familiar to the students.
  5. The town looks familiar, but I can't remember if I've been there before.

Quotes

  • Familiar acts are beautiful through love. – Percy Bysshe Shelley
  • Familiar things happen, and mankind does not bother about them. – Alfred North Whitehead
  • The familiar becomes the instrument for expressing the inexpressible. – Eugene Ionesco

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