Words / B1

f-uh-MIL-ee-uh/fəˈmɪliə/

Familiar means easy to recognise because you have met it before. Familiar with a topic; a familiar face. Famous means known by many people — a common mix-up. Unfamiliar is the opposite. Familiarity is the noun, but get familiar with is the everyday phrase.

Meaning

Easy to recognise because you have seen or heard it before.

Examples

• “The song sounded familiar.”
• “Are you familiar with this software?”
• “His voice sounded familiar, but I could not place it.”

Good to know

familiar with + noun. Not the same as famous. Opposite: unfamiliar.

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