Word Finder
What's the word for the feeling that you ve experienced the exact same moment before?
The word you're looking for
Déjà vu is the strong feeling that a new moment has already happened before. It is the best match for your description of recognising the exact same moment.
Other words that fit
Use this for the opposite feeling, when something familiar suddenly seems strange or new.
Use this only when you mean general recognition, not the sharp 'this happened before' feeling.
Use this when you mean remembering something from the past, not the sudden feeling itself.
Why this word
Déjà vu is the common word for the strange sense that you have lived the same moment before. It is a borrowed French phrase, but English speakers use it often in everyday speech. Do not use it for simple memory or for repeated routines. It usually describes a brief, eerie feeling, not an actual memory. People also use it figuratively for situations that feel oddly familiar.
In context
- I had déjà vu when I walked into the room.
- That street gave me déjà vu.
- Her story felt like déjà vu.
Other concepts to find a word for
Frequently asked questions
- Is déjà vu a real memory?
- No. It is usually a false feeling of familiarity, not a true memory.
- How do I use déjà vu in a sentence?
- Say, 'I had déjà vu,' or 'This place feels like déjà vu.'
- What is the opposite of déjà vu?
- The closest opposite is jamais vu, when something familiar feels strange.