Meaning 1
Known well enough to be recognized without effort.
Reach for it when describing a person, place, sound, or subject that prior contact makes recognizable
A familiar melody helped the nervous singer settle into the rehearsal.
Meaning 2
Comfortably informal in a way that assumes personal closeness.
Reach for it when describing an easy manner between people who know one another
Their familiar banter made the long setup feel shorter.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday |
|
|
| warm | ||
| professional | ||
| formal | ||
| literary |
everyday
known
Fits when simple prior awareness is all you need to express
Careful Known may be too weak when the subject feels comfortably established.
everyday
Fits when many people know the person or subject
Careful It can suggest public fame rather than one person's repeated contact.
professional
recognizable
Fits when someone can identify the thing on seeing or hearing it
Careful Recognizable does not imply the comfort or knowledge that familiarity may bring.
formal
customary
Fits when a repeated practice or usual pattern is meant
Careful A customary action is habitual, not necessarily recognizable.
everyday
casual
Fits when the manner is relaxed and unceremonious
Careful Casual may suggest carelessness, which familiar does not.
warm
Fits when the atmosphere is relaxed and low-pressure
Careful It describes temperament more than a relationship built through acquaintance.
professional
informal
Fits when relaxed conventions distinguish the interaction
Careful Informal can describe style between strangers and says nothing about closeness.
literary
Fits when comfortable friendliness between people is the appeal
Careful Companionable is warmer than familiar and may overstate affection.
familiar face
A familiar face at reception reassured the new apprentice.
familiar with
She is familiar with every stage of the permit process.
familiar tone
His familiar tone suited the reunion but not the ceremony.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated
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