befriend

verb

be·​friend bi-ˈfrend How to pronounce befriend (audio)
befriended; befriending; befriends
Synonyms of befriendnext

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.
His daughter Sadie Sandler stars as a college freshman who befriends a girl (Chloe East) who ends up being an awful roommate. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026 In the 2008 storyline, Peanut (Jarryd Joseph) is part of the family, having been befriended by Cricket Foster (Roderick Randle) when both were in elementary school. Amy Reyes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026 The frame narrative, involving Johnny befriending Toby, a Black boy his age on the plantation, Uncle Remus, and a white-trash girl, Ginny, who is bullied by her brothers, is stilted and poorly paced. Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 Daniel Bernhardt is Deathstalker, a legendary swordsman stuck with a cursed amulet who befriends swamp monsters and teams with a mini wizard (voiced by Patton Oswalt) to stop a dark magic from ruling the land. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026 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 21 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

befriend

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

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