déjà vu
noun
dé·jà vu
ˌdā-ˌzhä-ˈvü 
-ˈvᵫ
-ˈvᵫ
1
a
: the illusion of remembering scenes and events when experienced for the first time
b
: a feeling that one has seen or heard something before
Despite a blond, swept-back mane all his own, Fonda looks startlingly like his father, Henry … . He even moves like his father, only dispelling the eerie feeling of déjà vu when he opens his mouth.—
Peter Biskind
Peter Biskind2
: something overly or unpleasantly familiar
The team's poor start to the season was déjà vu for its long-suffering fans.
Examples of déjà vu in a Sentence
I entered the room and immediately felt a sense of déjà vu.
When the car broke down again, it was déjà vu.
The rise in housing costs is déjà vu all over again.
Recent Examples on the Web
The game held some deja vu for the ‘24 trade deadline acquisition, who made his Red Sox debut against the Rays on the final day of last season.
—Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
That is the film’s greatest asset; the ability to convey an emotional deja vu.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
When the Kansas men’s basketball team looks back on its performance vs. Arizona on Thursday, there will be an intense feeling of deja vu.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025
If the pictures are giving you a bit of deja vu, that's perfectly normal.
—Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2025
The anxieties surrounding a China market slowdown gives a sense of deja vu, said Woodring.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
As the Sens kept losing, the team’s confidence plummeted, and an underachieving November had fans and players feeling deja vu.
—Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Maresca admits to feeling a case of deja vu right now.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Followers of men’s football may be experiencing a strange sensation of deja vu at this point.
—Jessy Parker Humphreys, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
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Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 22 Feb. 2025
That is the film’s greatest asset; the ability to convey an emotional deja vu.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2025
When the Kansas men’s basketball team looks back on its performance vs. Arizona on Thursday, there will be an intense feeling of deja vu.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Mar. 2025
If the pictures are giving you a bit of deja vu, that's perfectly normal.
—Ars Technica, 11 Mar. 2025
The anxieties surrounding a China market slowdown gives a sense of deja vu, said Woodring.
—Hakyung Kim, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
As the Sens kept losing, the team’s confidence plummeted, and an underachieving November had fans and players feeling deja vu.
—Julian McKenzie, The Athletic, 28 Dec. 2024
Maresca admits to feeling a case of deja vu right now.
—Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 3 Feb. 2025
Followers of men’s football may be experiencing a strange sensation of deja vu at this point.
—Jessy Parker Humphreys, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Déjà vu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/d%C3%A9j%C3%A0%20vu. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
déjà vu
noun
dé·jà vu
ˌdā-ˌzhä-ˈvü
-ˈvᵫ̅
: a feeling that one has seen or heard something before
Etymology
French, literally, "already seen"
Medical Definition
déjà vu
noun
dé·jà vu
ˌdā-ˌzhä-ˈv(y)ü, dā-zhȧ-vᵫ̅
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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