feels more familiar

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feels more familiar" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing two or more things and expressing that one of them seems more known or recognizable than the others. Example: "After spending time in the new city, the streets began to feel more familiar to me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In some ways the Verve feels more familiar now than it did a decade ago.

The New York Times

I quickly discovered that, although mid-Wales feels more familiar to me than anywhere else on Earth, I really don't know it at all.

The Guardian

The novel's style feels more familiar when, following much dissident literature from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, it mixes gritty realism with absurdist satire.

The New Yorker

All that might ring a bell, and even Abby's escape — becoming a belle de jour, with the help of her renovations partner — feels more familiar to us than it does to her.

The New York Times

"The Curious Adventures of the Abandoned Toys," by the English screenwriter, director and actor Julian Fellowes, asks for an even bigger stretch of the imagination, but one that feels more familiar.

The New York Times - Books

Even so, she remains recognisable, not least when we see her drop in and out of her friends' lives, often when they most need her, in a way that feels more familiar to the real-life ebbs and flows of friendship than those depicted by ensemble casts.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Bradford called these "profane" passengers "Strangers," but to modern sensibilities they can feel more familiar than, say, William Brewster, who brought along a son named Wrestling, short for "wrestling with God".

The New Yorker

But standing over the jagged crevices of Jebel Barkal, looking out across a region that had been passed between so many different rulers, and formed part of so many different arrangements of power over land, our endpoint started to feel more familiar.

The Guardian

Plus, having Tina Fey and Drunk Uncle around made "Update" at least feel more familiar than maybe it is.

Huffington Post

The idea of the diary makes the collage effect in "Bluets" feel more familiar: quotes of Goethe segues into a moment where you wonder how to pronounce a word, then you remember a walk, and so on.

Los Angeles Times

In an interview, Konno notes that they included tracks from previous Mario Kart games into Mario Kart DS so that players who played the original Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System would feel more familiar with the DS iteration of the series.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a gradual process of familiarization, pair "feels more familiar" with time-related adverbs like 'gradually', 'increasingly', or 'eventually' to emphasize the change over time. This provides a clearer sense of progression.

Common error

Avoid using "feels more familiar" in situations where a stronger emotional term is more appropriate. While the phrase implies comfort, it can sound understated in scenarios requiring words that convey deeper feelings like love or grief. Opt for alternatives that better capture the intensity of the emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feels more familiar" functions primarily as a subject complement, describing the state of a subject in relation to its perceived familiarity. The Ludwig examples show it often follows a linking verb (feels) and modifies a noun (e.g., style, ending, place).

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

28%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feels more familiar" is a common and grammatically sound way to express a growing sense of recognition or comfort. It functions as a subject complement, effectively describing the evolving state of something becoming increasingly known. Ludwig confirms its correctness and highlights its usage across diverse contexts, predominantly in news, science and wiki domains. While versatile, it's advisable to use more emotionally charged alternatives when conveying deeper sentiments. Remember to consider the specific nuance you wish to convey: is it visual recognition, a sense of connection, or simply the loss of novelty? Selecting the most fitting alternative enriches your writing and ensures clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems more recognizable

Emphasizes visual or cognitive recognition rather than an emotional connection.

appears more known

Highlights the state of being known, suggesting increased awareness or knowledge.

resonates more strongly

Focuses on the emotional or intellectual impact, suggesting a deeper connection.

is increasingly recognizable

Highlights the process of becoming more familiar over time.

evokes a stronger sense of familiarity

Emphasizes the act of producing a feeling of being familiar.

is becoming easier to relate to

Focuses on the ability to connect with something on a personal level.

is losing its novelty

Suggests the fading of newness, leading to increased familiarity.

presents a more recognizable image

Focuses on the visual aspect of familiarity, suggesting a clearer or more identifiable picture.

holds fewer surprises

Indicates a decrease in unexpected elements, leading to a sense of predictability and familiarity.

is no longer foreign

Highlights the shift from an unfamiliar or alien state to one of acceptance and understanding.

FAQs

How can I use "feels more familiar" in a sentence?

You can use "feels more familiar" to describe something that is becoming increasingly recognizable or comfortable over time. For instance, "After revisiting my hometown, the streets "felt more familiar" than I remembered".

What can I say instead of "feels more familiar"?

You can use alternatives like "seems more recognizable", "appears more known", or "resonates more strongly" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "feels more familiarly"?

No, the correct phrasing is "feels more familiar". The word "familiar" is an adjective describing the feeling, so the adverbial form "familiarly" is not appropriate in this context.

What's the difference between "feels familiar" and "feels more familiar"?

"Feels familiar" indicates a general sense of recognition or comfort, while "feels more familiar" implies a comparison or a change over time, suggesting that something has become increasingly recognizable or comfortable.