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

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

The Tramp tries to strike it rich in Alaska during the Klondike gold rush with his eternal optimist of a pal, Big Jim. —Colin Fleming, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025

Yesterday, for dinner with pal Fai Khadra, Jenner offered a much more put-together take on casual. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 25 June 2025

Even Iran’s pal, Vladimir Putin, invader of Ukraine, who has been using Iranian drones against the Ukrainians, doesn’t want a nuclear Iran. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 25 June 2025

The show was first hosted by Mike Wolfe and his childhood pal, Frank Fritz, while Colby—who is also a longtime friend of Wolfe—worked as his office manager for his antique store, Antique Archaeology. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025

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