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.
This act, the abandonment of his best friend in his greatest time of need, is the greatest shame and weight that will haunt Ivan for the rest of his life. Literary Hub july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025 Sarkis and Tuckman offer these tips for those who may be struggling with time blindness: Alarms and scheduling apps are your best friends. Charles Trepany, USA Today, 30 June 2025 The sitcom centered on the life of Ellis' Joan, a lawyer living in Los Angeles who pulls three friends together to form an unbreakable bond - Maya (Brooks), Joan's assistant at her law firm, Lynn (White), her college roommate, and Toni (Jones), her childhood best friend. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 30 June 2025 And despite valid fears, the idea of marrying your best friend can, indeed, be a profound source of comfort. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 29 June 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 8 Jul. 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!