pal

1 of 2

noun

: a close friend
palship noun

pal

2 of 2

verb

palled; palling

intransitive verb

: to be or become pals : associate as pals
they've palled around for years

Examples of pal in a Sentence

Noun We've been pals since we were kids. Come on—be a pal and lend me the money.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Old pals Will Ferrell, Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson — the first two movie star incognito in baseball caps — chatted with LACMA director and CEO Michael Govan in front of one booth, while bigwig agents-slash-collectors from Endeavor, CAA and UTA were out in force, some swarming together in packs. Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2024 Gavin Newsom's 'sausage-making' means 'making deals for his donor pals'. Fox News, 1 Mar. 2024 Strings and winds pop up here and there, including guest appearances from pals old (Lil Yachty, a close friend since middle school) and new (Wilco guitarist Nels Cline, who became a fan and friend when Webster opened for his band on a 2021 tour). Steve Hochman, SPIN, 1 Mar. 2024 And now, Tom feels Dickie slipping away, magnetized instead to his old pal Freddie. Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024 But Villaraigosa’s rise in Sacramento and Los Angeles created the path for former union organizers to run for office themselves, including his high school pal Gil Cedillo, cousin John A. Perez and friends Maria Elena Durazo and Fabian Nuñez. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Much of the titular witch and her pals' wardrobes also included imagery of the American flag. Jessica Wang, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024 Tyler Perry, Andy Cohen and Kevin Bacon follow at 15. 8: Times Fallon's pal Justin Timberlake has been on the show, including his two musical performances. 10 each: Times Blake Shelton and Meghan Trainor have been the musical act, the most of any artist. Breanne L. Heldman, Peoplemag, 17 Feb. 2024 Now, the pooch pals are looking for a foster home together — a safe, compassionate place where Kaylee can heal. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Romani phral, phal brother, friend, from Sanskrit bhrātṛ brother; akin to Old English brōthor brother

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pal was in 1875

Dictionary Entries Near pal

Cite this Entry

“Pal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pal. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

pal

1 of 2 noun
: a close friend

pal

2 of 2 verb
palled; palling
: to be or become pals

Legal Definition

PAL

abbreviation
passive activity loss

More from Merriam-Webster on pal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!