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
Cameron’s vision is no longer the future, but a nostalgia trip, a very expensive form of deja vu.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
Within a minute, the scores were level, and a bleak sense of deja vu fell over the Emirates Stadium.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2025
And for McCrorey Heights residents, this feels like deja vu.
—Charlotte Observer, 14 Nov. 2025
Was this deja vu? Before the Fed lowered interest rates in September, mortgage rates fell to 6.13%, the lowest level in nearly a year in anticipation of a rate cut.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Would deja vu strike with another one of Mater Dei’s longtime opponents snapping an extended losing streak against the Orange County powerhouse?
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Part of it is sort of deja vu all over again.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The situation has given some lawmakers a sense of deja vu.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 5 July 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
Within a minute, the scores were level, and a bleak sense of deja vu fell over the Emirates Stadium.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 14 Dec. 2025
And for McCrorey Heights residents, this feels like deja vu.
—Charlotte Observer, 14 Nov. 2025
Was this deja vu? Before the Fed lowered interest rates in September, mortgage rates fell to 6.13%, the lowest level in nearly a year in anticipation of a rate cut.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Would deja vu strike with another one of Mater Dei’s longtime opponents snapping an extended losing streak against the Orange County powerhouse?
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Part of it is sort of deja vu all over again.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
The situation has given some lawmakers a sense of deja vu.
—Julia Mueller, The Hill, 5 July 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 Jan. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share