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familiar

When used as an adjective to mean 'well known,' it is often followed by the preposition 'with' (e.g., 'I am familiar with this city'). Be careful when using it to describe a person's behavior; calling someone 'too familiar' can be a criticism, meaning they are being too informal or disrespectful. As a noun, 'familiar' is almost exclusively used in the context of mythology, fantasy stories, or historical folklore regarding witchcraft.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon, Chloe is in a lecture hall while Leo is at home gaming.

Chloe Smith

This guy's voice sounds so familiar. Is he your old coach?

Leo Smith

Nah, you're reaching. Probably just some random NPC.

💡

Chloe is trying to identify a speaker by their voice (using 'familiar' as well known). Leo responds with 'reaching' (slang for making an unlikely connection) and calls the person an 'NPC' (gaming slang for a non-player character/boring person), reflecting his cynical, gamer personality.

Meanings

adjective

Well known from long or close association.

"The melody sounded familiar, though I couldn't remember where I had heard it before."

adjective

Having a close personal relationship with someone; informal.

"He spoke in a familiar tone that suggested they had been friends for years."

noun

A demon or spirit supposed to be associated with and assist a witch.

"In folklore, a black cat is often depicted as a witch's familiar."

Last Updated: May 22, 2026•Report an Error