familiarise

USAGE SUMMARY

"familiarise" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to describe the action of becoming familiar with something, as in: "The students familiarised themselves with the new reading material over the course of the week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I want engineers to build bridges; I want a trained surgeon to operate on hearts and I want some of our decision-makers and commentators to either shut up, or familiarise themselves with climate science well enough to talk sense.

The Guardian

Once I'd allowed ample time to familiarise myself with the way of life, I searched the Yellow Pages for employment agencies and headed into the city armed with a file of heavily padded-out CVs.

The Guardian

The next day, a skipper accompanied us to familiarise us with the vessel.

The Guardian - Travel

The training will also familiarise Ukraine with Western military mores.

The Economist

Next week, to familiarise both voters and officialdom with the alien procedures of a democratic poll, the country will hold a mock election.

The Economist

Managers will have to familiarise themselves with a mind-boggling number of mid-level cities in the developing world if they are to ride the next wave of globalisation.

The Economist

Parliaments must draft supporting legislation; ministries have to devise accompanying regulations; officials have to familiarise themselves with the new rules; and the police and courts must enforce them.

The Economist

He could easily start to struggle once opposing defences familiarise themselves with him and adapt their strategies to contain him, probably by forcing him to take longer shots than he is accustomed to.The second question is whether he is likely to draw increased attention to the sport from other Asian-Americans, and perhaps shatter some racial stereotypes along the way.

The Economist

He was advised to make his way to Russia overland, to familiarise himself with the region.

The Economist

Judges need to familiarise themselves with the appropriate accrediting organisations in the various forensic fields so they don't allow frauds and charlatans rubber-stamped by disreputable certification mills to testify in their courtrooms.

The Economist

Another is that judges need to familiarise themselves with the relevant technology, so they can make informed rulings as to whether a disclosure request is reasonable.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "familiarise" when you want to emphasize the process of becoming knowledgeable about something, especially when preparation or understanding is key.

Common error

Avoid using "familiarise" as a noun. It is a verb, so ensure it is used in the correct grammatical context. For example, use "familiarization" instead when a noun is required.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "familiarise" is as a transitive verb. It describes the action of making someone or something acquainted with something else. Ludwig provides examples that showcase its use in various sentence structures, confirming its verbal role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "familiarise" is a verb that means to make someone or something familiar with something else. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in news and media contexts. While "familiarise" is the British English spelling, "familiarize" is the American English equivalent. Remember to use "familiarization" when a noun is required. Alternative phrases like "become acquainted with" or "get to know" can be used depending on the context. Therefore, feel confident in using the term, keeping these points in mind for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

become acquainted with

Focuses on the action of getting to know something or someone.

get to know

Emphasizes the process of developing understanding over time.

acquaint oneself with

A more formal way of saying become familiar with.

get used to

Highlights adapting to something through repeated exposure.

become conversant with

Suggests gaining a working knowledge of a topic.

gain familiarity with

Focuses on the act of acquiring a sense of knowing something.

get the hang of

Implies learning how to do something through practice.

learn the ropes

Refers to learning the procedures or basics of a job or activity.

become aware of

Highlights the process of gaining knowledge or understanding.

get clued up on

Means to learn about and understand something.

FAQs

How can I use "familiarise" in a sentence?

You can use "familiarise" to describe the action of becoming familiar with something. For example, "The students "familiarise" themselves with the new software."

What's the difference between "familiarise" and "familiarize"?

"Familiarise" is the British English spelling, while "familiarize" is the American English spelling. Both words have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably depending on the regional context.

What can I say instead of "familiarise"?

You can use alternatives like "become acquainted with", "get to know", or "acquaint oneself with" depending on the context.

Is "familiarise" a formal or informal word?

"Familiarise" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal word. It's suitable for both professional and everyday communication.