pal

1 of 2

noun

ˈpal 

: a close friend

palship

ˈpal-ˌship 

noun

pal

2 of 2

verb

palled; palling

intransitive verb

: to be or become pals : associate as pals

they've palled around for years

Synonyms of pal

Noun

• friend
• buddy

Verb

• travel
• associate
• bond
• run
• hang (around or out)
• mix
• connect
• take up with
• rub shoulders (with)
• hook up
• mingle
• join
• company
• collaborate
• relate
• fall in with

Examples of pal in a Sentence

Noun

We've been pals since we were kids.

Come on—be a pal and lend me the money.

Verb

they began to pal around after discovering that they both had kids on the same soccer team

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Something sinister is set in motion when Naim discovers his intimate pal might have similar feelings for another boy, Hunter (Jeremy Blewitt), the local pastor’s son. —Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026

Next up for the two Americans, and podcast pals, is a fourth-round encounter against each other. —John Pye, Baltimore Sun, 24 Jan. 2026

At 17, he and his brother and two pals were accused of killing a sleeping couple and robbing them of $400. —Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2026

An email to Damon has also been leaked, as have a slew of texts between Lively and her reportedly estranged pal Taylor Swift, who Baldoni’s camp now intends to call as a hostile witness. —Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Romani phral, phal brother, friend, from Sanskrit bhrātṛ brother; akin to Old English brōthor brother

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing pal

• gal pal
• pal around with
• pal up
• pen pal

Rhymes for pal

• bal
• dal
• gal
• mal
• sal
• shall
• canal
• chorale
• corral
• ghazal
• locale
• morale

Kids Definition

pal

1 of 2 noun

ˈpal 

: a close friend

pal

2 of 2 verb

palled; palling

: to be or become pals

Legal Definition

PAL

abbreviation

passive activity loss