best friend

noun

plural best friends
1
: a person's closest and dearest friend
She's my best friend.
We have been best friends since high school.
2
: a person's most desirable or valuable possession or resource
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but gold is more affordable.William Giese
Lycra-cotton leggings and tunic tops are the pregnant woman's best friend, sartorially speaking.Anne Reeks
When cops bang on the door, the toilet is a drug dealer's best friend.Frederick Kaufman

Examples of best friend in a Sentence

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.
In the new story Percy (Walker Scobell) sets out on a journey to find his best friend Grover (Aryan Simhadri) and the magical Golden Fleece, which might just help him save Camp Halfblood. Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025 Owen's best friend, Khloe Wilson, was suspected of sending the messages early in the investigation due to past tensions with Lauryn and bullying accusations. Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Sep. 2025 Ali Wong plays Sasha, a celebrity chef, while Randall Park plays her former best friend and high school hookup, Marcus, who still lives in their hometown. James Mercadante, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025 That is my best friend, my assistant, my email writer—everything. Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for best friend

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of best friend was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Best friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/best%20friend. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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!