friendly

adjective

friend·ly | \ ˈfren(d)-lē

friendlier; friendliest

Definition of friendly

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : of, relating to, or befitting a friend: such as

a : showing kindly interest and goodwill friendly neighbors

b : not hostile a friendly merger offer also : involving or coming from actions of one's own forces friendly fire

c : cheerful, comforting the friendly glow of the fire

2 : serving a beneficial or helpful purpose A friendly breeze finally drove the boat into harbor.

3a : easy to use or understand friendly computer software —often used in combination a reader-friendly layout

b : designed or intended to accommodate particular needs, users, etc. —usually used in combination a kid-friendly restaurant… providing a more business-friendly and professional environment …— Matt Miller — see also user-friendly

4 : not causing or likely to cause harm environmentally friendly packaging [=packaging that does not damage the environment] —often used in combination an eco-friendly vehicle

friendly

adverb

Definition of friendly (Entry 2 of 3)

: in a friendly manner : amicably

friendly

noun

plural friendlies

Definition of friendly (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : one that is friendly especially : a native who is friendly to settlers or invaders

2 chiefly British : a match between sports teams and especially international teams that has no connection with league or championship play

Other Words from friendly Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about friendly

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Choose the Right Synonym for friendly

Adjective

amicable, neighborly, friendly mean exhibiting goodwill and an absence of antagonism. amicable implies a state of peace and a desire on the part of the parties not to quarrel. maintained amicable relations neighborly implies a disposition to live on good terms with others and to be helpful on principle. neighborly concern friendly stresses cordiality and often warmth or intimacy of personal relations. sought friendly advice

Examples of friendly in a Sentence

Adjective

The local people are very friendly to visitors. It was friendly of him to offer to help us. His friendly smile was reassuring. They maintained a friendly correspondence. A friendly breeze helped us sail the boat into the harbor.

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Like Beckham is a family-friendly romantic comedy that follows two girls, Jess, who comes from a conservative family, and Jules, a player on the local women’s soccer team. — Seventeen, "20 Mother's Day Movies to Watch With Your Mom," 11 Apr. 2019 Now, she’s established a friendly, pared-back space with delectable scallion pancakes that will serve as a welcome reprieve from the noise of South by Southwest. — Ella Riley-adams, Vogue, "The Best New Places to Eat in Austin During SXSW," 9 Mar. 2019 Step onto the linoleum floors at one of hottest eateries in town, which is known for its high-quality Californian cuisine and an Instagram-friendly atmosphere. — Charlotte Chilton, Town & Country, "What to Do on Your Next Trip to Palm Springs," 5 Mar. 2019 But there’s much more to these new lawmakers than just a camera-friendly shine. — Lucy Diavolo, Teen Vogue, "The Bad Girls' Caucus Has Been Sworn In and Congress May Never Be the Same," 3 Jan. 2019 Somewhere along the way, CBD became the friendly, harmless, medicinal part of cannabis, and THC the intoxicating drug. — Amber Senter, Marie Claire, "We Have to Acknowledge That CBD Use Is a Privilege," 11 Apr. 2019 The Tribu icon is friendly and inviting: a bright red square with a smiley face. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "Legendary Vogue Model Michaela Bercu on Launching Tribu, the Uber of Volunteering," 29 Mar. 2019 Winky Lux has just introduced four new flavors of Matcha Lip Balm — perfect for those who aren't necessarily a fan of the taste or smell of matcha (see: me) but want the skin-friendly benefits of it. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Winky Lux Just Launched 4 New Flavors Of Its Adorable Matcha Lip Balm," 23 Mar. 2019 The company recycles all its plastic bags and hangers, dry-cleans its clothing with a nonhazardous chemical, and has patented its own eco-friendly garment bag. — Erin Quinn-kong, Woman's Day, "Are Your Fast-Fashion Clothes Killing Farmers?," 14 Feb. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

Saturday’s StubHub Center friendly between Manchester United and the Galaxy couldn’t come at a better time for the visitors — or at a worse time for the home team. — Kevin Baxter, latimes.com, "Galaxy's matchup vs. Manchester United comes at inopportune time," 14 July 2017 The defensive devices manufactured by Mace are user-friendly, priced reasonably, and set the industry standard for quality and innovation. — Janet H. Cho, cleveland.com, "Mace pepper sprays offer potent protection made in Cleveland (photos, video)," 28 May 2017

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

That includes the two international friendlies against Crystal Palace and Valencia. — Charlie Hatch, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati to celebrate 1 million fans in attendance through first 2.5 seasons," 14 July 2018 But a tough baptism awaits, with friendlies lined up against two teams heading to the World Cup: England on March 23 in Amsterdam, and Portugal three days later. — Jo Biddle-benoit Noel/afp, chicagotribune.com, "Koeman takes on tough job as latest Dutch national coach," 6 Feb. 2018 Just two losses in that hectic schedule of more than 25 matches (not including friendlies). — Cincinnati.com, "Enquirer soccer writers predict 2018 FIFA World Cup winner," 16 June 2018 There are also two friendlies against Chile late in the summer. — Steven Goff, chicagotribune.com, "U.S. women's soccer is one year from the World Cup. It seems closer for coach Jill Ellis.," 12 July 2018 The ongoing training camp will last until 22nd July, during which time there will be friendlies against Swiss sides Lugano and Sion. — SI.com, "Inter Officially Unveil Kwadwo Asamoah Following Free Transfer From Juventus," 10 July 2018 Portland Thorns midfielders Tobin Heath and Lindsey Horan and defender Midge Purce have been called up to the U.S. Women's National Team for friendlies against China on June 7 and June 12. — Jamie Goldberg, OregonLive.com, "Tobin Heath, Lindsey Horan, Midge Purce called up to U.S. Women's National Team," 30 May 2018 Judging by their recent friendlies, the Russian defense will have a lot of trouble stopping two the most accurate strikers: Barcelona’s Luis Suarez and Liverpool’s Salah. — José Luis Sánchez Pando, chicagotribune.com, "2018 World Cup Group A preview: Watch out for 'The Pharaohs'," 22 May 2018 That shows that some European soccer fans have been slow to fall in love with the new Nations League format, though the old friendlies weren’t always crowd pleasers. — James Ellingworth, The Seattle Times, "UEFA Nations League a hit as positivity replaces skepticism," 21 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'friendly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.