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The feeling that you have experienced a present situation before, even when it seems new.
synonyms:sense of familiarityfeeling of having been here before
Borrowed from French, where déjà vu literally means “already seen.”
An everyday expression for a strangely familiar moment. It can also be used casually when a situation seems to be repeating itself.
Many people recognize and use the expression, though the feeling—or an occasion to mention it—does not come up every day.
As I walked into the unfamiliar café, I had a sudden feeling of déjà vu.
Hearing the same excuse again gave me a sense of déjà vu.
The conversation felt like déjà vu, although I knew we had never had it before.
Déjà vu is that odd moment when something new feels as though it has happened before. The phrase comes from French and literally means “already seen.” You might use it for a fleeting feeling in an unfamiliar place or, more casually, for a situation that seems to repeat itself. It is a handy name for the brain’s little “Wait, haven’t we done this?” moment.