familiar
well known or easily recognized
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,300 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 14,094 times across 155,370 chapters — 0.007% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- well known or easily recognized a familiar figurefamiliar songs
- within normal everyday experience; common and ordinary; not strange familiar ordinary objects found in every homea familiar everyday scene
- (usually followed by `with') well informed about or knowing thoroughly also: conversant conversant with business trendsfamiliar with the complex machinery
- having mutual interests or affections; of established friendship also: intimate on familiar termspretending she is on an intimate footing with those she slanders
noun
- a person attached to the household of a high official (as a pope or bishop) who renders service in return for support
- a friend who is frequently in the company of another also: companion, comrade, fellow, associate drinking companionscomrades in arms
- a spirit (usually in animal form) that acts as an assistant to a witch or wizard also: familiar spirit
familiar in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Of course you are familiar with the peculiar conformation of Cape Cod.
Punchinello, Volume 1, No. 08, May 21, 1870 · Various · Chapter 1
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The others are to be sung to old airs that are presumably familiar to everyone.
The White Christmas and other Merry · Walter Ben Hare · Chapter 1
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The thick gray brows were no longer gathered in the frown too familiar to Bobby.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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Such were the arguments of that Voice of the river, the old, familiar arguments of desolation and despair.
The Mahatma and the Hare: A Dream Story · H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard · Chapter 1
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She vowed to ask no favors of familiar faces; to die neglected and forgotten before she would be dependent on any.
Our Nig · Harriet E. Wilson · Chapter 1