familiar to vs familiar with

'Familiar to' and 'familiar with' are both acceptable phrases, but they would be used in dissimilar contexts. 'Familiar with' is more commonly used when referring to knowledge or experience with something or someone, while 'familiar to' is used when describing something that is known or recognized by someone.

Explained by Gregg
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 20, 2025 • 6897 views

This phrase is correct and used when describing something that is known or recognized by someone.

"familiar to"

This phrase is used to indicate that something is known or recognized by someone. For example, 'The song was familiar to me.'

Examples:

The story was familiar to most of the audience.
The smell was familiar to her childhood memories.
The place looked familiar to him, but he couldn't remember why.
The face seemed familiar to me, but I couldn't place it.
The language was familiar to those who had studied it before.

Show examples from the web [+]

The song is now very familiar to us.
He sounds familiar to me, but I can't place him.
The smooth stones on the sand are familiar to us.
The creatures you describe, they are familiar to me.
They have paid the highest possible price for this ongoing problem that is familiar to us all.
Capt Picard, your vessel is not familiar to us.
I assume that that library is familiar to you.
No wonder this house looks familiar to me.
This kind of sneaking around is very familiar to me.
Morpheus would have used something vaguely familiar to me.
This crime is familiar to me.
Your face is familiar to me.
My name is familiar to you.
Some of these faces may be familiar to you. Jesus.
Lottery winners are familiar to all of us.
Honey, you look all kinds of familiar to me.
He is indeed familiar to me.
Nothing about this world is familiar to me...
The wave, as demonstrated by sports fans, has an up-and-down motion that's very familiar to us.
The tragic accident in Japan has led to a nuclear disaster that is now familiar to us all.

Alternatives:

known to
recognized by
familiar in

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to knowledge or experience with something or someone.

"familiar with"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone has knowledge or experience of something or someone. For example, 'She is familiar with the new software.'

Examples:

I am familiar with the city layout.
He is familiar with the procedures for this task.
Are you familiar with the latest research findings?
She is familiar with the history of the region.
They are familiar with each other's work.

Show examples from the web [+]

The meaning of FAMILIAR WITH is having some knowledge about (something). How to use familiar with in a sentence.
Becoming familiar with taxes. Updated Nov 17, 2022. Students match tax types to definitions and then apply their knowledge to tax scenarios.
Sample tests are a preparation tool to use before your test day. It's important for you to be familiar with the format and functionality of the CPA Exam ...
Watch short videos to become familiar with the basics of ArcGIS Pro.
Synonyms of 'familiar with' in British English. familiar with. (idiom) in the sense of acquainted with. Definition. well acquainted with.
5 days ago ... be familiar with something/someone definition: 1. to know something or someone well: 2. to know something or someone well: . Learn more.
5 days ago ... He doesn't like to be too familiar with his staff. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases.

Alternatives:

knowledgeable about
experienced with
acquainted with

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familiar to vs familiar with

"familiar to"

"familiar with"

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