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deja-vu

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Dictionary definition of deja-vu

The eerie and unsettling sensation of feeling like you have experienced a current situation or moment before, even though it is entirely new or unfamiliar.
"The conversation felt like déjà vu, as if we had had it before."

Detailed meaning of deja-vu

It's a peculiar and often inexplicable phenomenon where your present circumstances seem to overlap with a past memory, creating a distinct feeling of having "been here before." This puzzling sensation can evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity as people grapple with the blurred boundaries between the past and the present, leaving them questioning the mysteries of memory and perception. Déjà vu experiences vary in intensity and frequency, making them a subject of fascination and intrigue in psychology and philosophy.

Example sentences containing deja-vu

1. The feeling of déjà vu was overwhelming as I walked into the room.
2. I had a sense of déjà vu as I retraced my steps from the day before.
3. The dream felt like déjà vu, as if I had lived it before.
4. The situation was eerily familiar, like déjà vu.
5. The déjà vu was so strong that it made me question reality.
6. I couldn't shake off the feeling of déjà vu as I walked through the city.

History and etymology of deja-vu

The noun 'deja-vu' has its etymology rooted in French, where it literally means 'already seen.' It combines 'deja' (meaning 'already') and 'vu' (meaning 'seen'). 'Deja-vu' describes the eerie and unsettling sensation of feeling like you have experienced a current situation or moment before, even though it is entirely new or unfamiliar. The etymology of 'deja-vu' captures the essence of this phenomenon, emphasizing the feeling of having already seen or encountered something that is, in reality, a novel experience. It remains a fascinating and mysterious aspect of human perception and memory.

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Further usage examples of deja-vu

1. The song gave me a sense of déjà vu, as if I had heard it before.
2. The déjà vu was so intense that it gave me goosebumps.
3. The experience was like déjà vu, as if I had already lived it.
4. I couldn't explain the sense of déjà vu that came over me.
5. The déjà vu was so strong that it made me feel like I was in a time loop.
6. The eerie feeling of déjà-vu struck her as she walked into the unfamiliar room.
7. He experienced déjà-vu during the meeting, as if he'd heard the speech before.
8. As she picked up the book, a sense of déjà-vu overwhelmed her momentarily.
9. The melody gave him déjà-vu, though he was sure he'd never heard the song.
10. When she met him, déjà-vu swept over her, despite never having seen him before.
11. During the hike, he felt déjà-vu, as if he'd traversed this path in another life.
12. The dream left her with an intense feeling of déjà-vu upon waking up.
13. At the job interview, déjà-vu made her feel oddly comfortable in the new setting.
14. He dismissed his déjà-vu as a trick of his tired mind during the late hours.
15. The scent of the perfume triggered a déjà-vu, though she couldn't place it.
16. While watching the film, she experienced déjà-vu, puzzling her for hours after.
17. The final exam question gave him déjà-vu, as if he'd answered it in a dream.
18. As the plane landed, a sense of déjà-vu made him feel like he'd been here before.
19. The déjà-vu was so strong that she checked her journal to see if it was recorded.
20. In the middle of the conversation, déjà-vu hit her, making her pause thoughtfully.
21. During the tour, déjà-vu struck him at each historical landmark they visited.
22. She felt déjà-vu when reading the news, as if she'd already heard the story.
23. His déjà-vu was so intense that he accurately predicted the next words spoken.
24. In the bustling city, he felt a surprising sense of déjà-vu in a quaint café.
25. The déjà-vu unsettled her, as if warning her about the choice she was making.