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.
The film follows a young Hawaiian girl named Lilo (Maia Kealoha) who befriends an unidentified blue alien who crash lands onto Earth from space. Leia Mendoza, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025 The men befriended people who appeared to be intoxicated before stealing their property and beating them, police said. Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2025 The show also stars Wendell Pierce as the NYPD captain overseeing Elsbeth, and Carra Patterson plays an NYPD officer who befriends Elsbeth. Carson Blackwelder, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025 Like Lisa Del Dotto, who befriended Irish actor and filmmaker Pierce Brosnan in 2017 and years later got personally invited, alongside her boyfriend, to his SXSW screenings. Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 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 20 Aug. 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
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