befriend

verb

be·​friend bi-ˈfrend 

befriended; befriending; befriends

transitive verb

: to become or act as a friend to

befriended the new student

Examples of befriend in a Sentence

He befriended the new student.

Recent Examples on the Web

Having befriended Billy Ray Cyrus in the early ’90s, Parton was Cyrus’s honorary godmother and even lived up to that designation through guest spots on Hannah Montana. — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026

Cyrus’s father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus, befriended Parton in the 1990s and later asked her to be Miley’s godmother. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026

Sometimes Sam and Mymonie hosted Mike Karoub’s father, Hussien, whom Sam had befriended. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026

Iger befriended Lakers’ current head coach JJ Redick when Redick played for the Clippers from 2013 to 2017. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for befriend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend
• descend

Kids Definition

befriend

verb

be·​friend bi-ˈfrend 

: to become or act as a friend to