befriend

verb

be·​friend bi-ˈfrend How to pronounce befriend (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There’s also an entire case of 33 trinkets to find and wear that impact each run, and a full menagerie of animal familiars to befriend who can follow players around and assist in battle. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025 Photographer Sam Shaw befriended the iconic actress in the early 1950s and soon became her de facto personal photographer. Mark Gray, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025 The new movie will follow a 12-year-old boy who befriends a golden retriever and pursues a basketball championship. Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 2025 In the film, child refugee David (played by first-time actors Álex Peláez and Hugo Encuentra) befriends Simón (Manolo Solo) on a boat travelling to a no-man’s land. Martin Dale, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for befriend

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of befriend was in 1559

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befriend. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

befriend

verb
be·​friend bi-ˈfrend How to pronounce befriend (audio)
: to become or act as a friend to

More from Merriam-Webster on befriend

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!