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

And how will the rest of her pals, lovers, and colleagues fit into the uprooted narrative? —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025

Sweeney brought along a couple of pals, including new boyfriend Scooter Braun. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 1 Dec. 2025

Seeing my pal David Corenswet be Superman himself up on the big screen just plastered the biggest smile on my face. —Darren Criss, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025

Aniston's latest Thanksgiving festivities come one year after her 2024 A-list friendsgiving celebration with pals including Friends costar Courteney Cox, Oscar-winner Sandra Bullock and actor Sean Hayes and his husband Scott Icenogle. —Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 1 Dec. 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