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familiar

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adjective American English pronunciation: familiar /fəˈmɪljər/
  1. 1
    well known to you, or easily recognized by you

    People are more relaxed in familiar surroundings.

    familiar to:

    The name Harry Potter will be familiar to many readers.

    vaguely familiar:

    His face looked vaguely familiar but I couldn't remember where we'd met.

    a familiar face/figure/voice etc.:

    I'm pleased to see so many familiar faces here tonight.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of familiar
  2. 2
    a familiar sight, problem, etc. is common and happens a lot

    Horse-drawn carriages used to be a familiar sight.

    horribly/painfully/depressingly familiar:

    These stories of bureaucratic mistakes are depressingly familiar.

    all-too familiar:

    an all-too familiar problem

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of familiar
  3. 3
    behaving in an informal or friendly way toward someone who you do not know very well, especially in a way that makes them feel that you do not respect them
    be on familiar terms with someone:

    She seems to be on very familiar terms with the waiter.

    familiar with:

    Don't be too familiar with the customers.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of familiar

phrase

This is the American English definition of familiar. View British English definition of familiar.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to British English.

View the pronunciation for familiar.

 

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