boyfriend

noun

boy·​friend ˈbȯi-ˌfrend How to pronounce boyfriend (audio)
1
: a male friend
2
: a frequent or regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship

Examples of boyfriend in a Sentence

My boyfriend and I have only been dating for a couple of months. her boyfriend always brings her flowers for Valentine's Day
Recent Examples on the Web Kelsea Ballerini is turning 30 with some love from boyfriend Chase Stokes. Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 13 Sep. 2023 Nella’s boyfriend Owen (Hunter Parrish) plays the straight man, literally and figuratively. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2023 Coppola’s film tells the tale of Charlotte (Johansson), a twenty-something college grad accompanying her boyfriend, John (Giovanni Ribisi, an exaggerated version of Coppola’s ex-husband Spike Jonze), a celebrity photographer, on a trip to Tokyo. Marlow Stern, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2023 William Lucas, 8, survived after Tonya Lucas’ boyfriend at the time rescued him from the burning home. Alex Mann, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2023 He and his siblings were abused by their mother’s boyfriend and ultimately taken from their home and placed in foster care. Cory Shaffer, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2023 Brooks Houck, Rogers' boyfriend and father of her youngest child, was named by police as a suspect in the early days of the investigation but has never been arrested or charged in connection with her disappearance. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 11 Sep. 2023 The boyfriend and girlfriend were charged with murder after their toddler died of a fentanyl overdose in June 2020. Olga R. Rodriguez, Fortune Well, 8 Sep. 2023 To Fernando’s dismay, their clever stepsister Paula (Federica García), a recent addition to their lives after the boys’ mother remarried, invites herself and her boyfriend on the trip. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boyfriend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boyfriend was in 1822

Dictionary Entries Near boyfriend

Cite this Entry

“Boyfriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boyfriend. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

boyfriend

noun
boy·​friend ˈbȯi-ˌfrend How to pronounce boyfriend (audio)
1
: a male friend
2
: a frequent or regular male companion in a romantic relationship

More from Merriam-Webster on boyfriend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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