English dictionary

familiar Meaning & Definition

Q: What is the plural of familiar?

The plural of familiar is familiars.

Q: What are the comparative and superlative forms of familiar?

The comparative form is more familiar and the superlative form is most familiar.

fə-ˈmil-yər

What Does Familiar Mean?

Familiar is used as a noun meaning a member of the household of a high official. It can also mean one who is often seen and well known. As an adjective, it means closely acquainted.

Familiar at a Glance

Part of speech	noun, adjective
Pronunciation	/fə-ˈmil-yər/
Syllables	3
Synonyms	intimate, close and common
Antonyms	strange, unusual and unfamiliar
Plural	familiars
Comparative / superlative	more familiar, most familiar
Adverb	familiarly

Familiar Definition (Noun)

a member of the household of a high official
one who is often seen and well known
an intimate associate : companion
a spirit often embodied in an animal and held to attend and serve or guard a person
… the loathsome toad, the witches' familiar …
one who is well acquainted with something
… familiars of violence.
one who frequents a place
… familiars of the embassy.

Familiar as an Adjective

closely acquainted : intimate
a familiar family friend
affable, sociable
of or relating to a family
remembering past familiar celebrations
frequented by families
a familiar resort
being free and easy
the familiar association of old friends
marked by informality
a familiar essay
overly free and unrestrained : presumptuous
grossly familiar behavior
moderately tame
familiar animals
frequently seen or experienced : easily recognized
a familiar theme
of everyday occurrence
a familiar routine
possibly known but imperfectly remembered
her face looked familiar
having personal or intimate knowledge

Familiar in a Sentence

There’s a familiar face; that tune sounds familiar.

I'm quite familiar with this system; she's not familiar with manual gears.

We are on familiar terms now; our neighbour is not familiar

Don’t be familiar with me, boy!

The witch’s familiar was a black cat.

there’s a familiar face; that tune sounds familiar

I'm quite familiar with this system; she's not familiar with manual gears

we are not on familiar terms; our neighbour is not familiar

… the loathsome toad, the witches' familiar …

… familiars of violence.

… familiars of the embassy.

a familiar family friend

remembering past familiar celebrations

a familiar resort

the familiar association of old friends

a familiar essay

grossly familiar behavior

familiar animals

a familiar theme

a familiar routine

her face looked familiar

the little inside jokes that people who have long been familiar like to share

book editors who are familiar with what is being taught in the schools

the woman and her pair of Welsh corgis were a familiar sight in the quiet neighborhood

rather too familiar for a first-time guest in our home, the woman kept asking how much we paid for this or for that

a longtime familiar of the bar, she would most likely have been there on the night in question

with old familiars the normally reserved writer can be quite warm and funny

Word Forms & Grammar

familiar

familiars

fa·mil·iar·ly adverb

fa·mil·iar·ness noun

familiarly

familiarness

familiarnesses

familiar (comparative more familiar, superlative most familiar)

familiar (plural familiars)

Words That Rhyme With Familiar

unfamiliardevilliertill yer

Origin of Familiar

Origin 1: see familiar:2

Origin 2: Middle English familier, from Anglo-French, from Latin familiaris, from familia see family:1

Origin 3: From Middle English familiar, familier, from Latin familiāris (“pertaining to servants; pertaining to the household”).[1] By surface analysis, family +‎ -ar. Piecewise doublet of familial. Displaced native Old English hīwcūþ.

First Known Use

13th century

14th century

How Do You Say Familiar?

You say familiar as /fə-ˈmil-yər/. It has 3 syllables, with the main stress on the second syllable (mil).

Questions People Ask About Familiar

Is familiar a noun or an adjective?

Familiar is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an adjective.

What is another word for familiar?

Words with a similar meaning to familiar include intimate, close and common. See the full list of familiar synonyms and antonyms.

What is the opposite of familiar?

The opposite of familiar can be expressed with words like strange, unusual, unfamiliar and distant.

What is the plural of familiar?

The plural of familiar is familiars.

What are the comparative and superlative forms of familiar?

The comparative form is more familiar and the superlative form is most familiar.