palled; palling
: to be or become pals : associate as pals
they've palled around for years
palled; palling; palls
1
: to lose strength or effectiveness
2
: to lose in interest or attraction
his humor began to pall on us
He found that his retirement hobbies began to pall after a couple of years.
3
: dwindle
our enthusiasm soon palled
1
: to cause to become insipid
… reason and reflection … pall all his enjoyments.—
Francis Atterbury
Francis Atterbury2
: to deprive of pleasure in something by satiating
The choicest delicacies pall the stomach in time.
1
2
a
: a square of linen usually stiffened with cardboard that is used to cover the chalice
b(1)
: a heavy cloth draped over a coffin
(2)
: a coffin especially when holding a body
3
a
: something that covers or conceals
especially
: an overspreading element that produces an effect of gloom
a pall of thick black smoke
a pall of suspicion
b
: a feeling of gloom
his absence cast a pall over the celebration
Examples of pal in a Sentence
Noun (1)
We've been pals since we were kids.
Come on—be a pal and lend me the money.
Verb (1)
they began to pal around after discovering that they both had kids on the same soccer team
Verb (2)
viewers' interest in the reality show eventually palled
Noun (2)
bearing her husband's pall were her four brothers and two nephews
a persistent pall of distrust has overtaken this administration and will remain until the president resigns
Recent Examples on the Web
Jordan Novet,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 13 June 2026
So, naturally, PEOPLE reached out to get all the details about their new pals, along with some exclusive, shamelessly cute photos of them all.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
But after a time, the combination of abrasive, impenetrably shellacked characters and deliberately, hopelessly tangled shaggy-dog storytelling begins to pall, and viewers may wish for a simpler way in.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Aug. 2022
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
The greatest loss, as microdemographics turn away from and against one another and a grim pall descends over public life, might be that of late night as a venue to forget our differences (or at least laugh about them) long enough to have fun together, like a functional society.
—Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pal
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Valor Equity Partners, run by longtime Musk pal Antonio Gracias, is sitting on a stake worth over $80 billion, mostly owned by the firm’s clients.
—Jordan Novet,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 13 June 2026
So, naturally, PEOPLE reached out to get all the details about their new pals, along with some exclusive, shamelessly cute photos of them all.
—Breanne L. Heldman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Verb
But three weeks into their stay — Spain arrived in New Zealand well in advance of its first game, hoping to draw the sting from the jet lag — the place had started to pall.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
But after a time, the combination of abrasive, impenetrably shellacked characters and deliberately, hopelessly tangled shaggy-dog storytelling begins to pall, and viewers may wish for a simpler way in.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Aug. 2022
Noun
The team boarded the bus in Cleveland after a 117-95 blowout by the Cavaliers in dead silence, an icy pall setting in among teammates desperate not to let losing become comfortable.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026
The greatest loss, as microdemographics turn away from and against one another and a grim pall descends over public life, might be that of late night as a venue to forget our differences (or at least laugh about them) long enough to have fun together, like a functional society.
—Judy Berman, Time, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pal
Cite this Entry
“Pal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pal. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pal
1 of 2 noun
: a close friend
pal
2 of 2 verb
palled; palling
: to be or become pals
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