as in to friend
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriend
The following day there was a break in the case when Ricky Chavis, a local handyman who had befriended Terry and often took care of his sons while Terry was at work, brought Derek and Alex to the sheriff’s station.
—
Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Just keep in mind, this is a place where Patti LaBelle befriended Indiana Jones.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Jingliang Su, a Chinese national, faces almost four years in prison for his role in crypto fraud that relied on befriending Americans on social media, then winning their trust in order to fleece them.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Their friendship goes back over 20 years, when Kobo was a graduate student at New York University and befriended Hoffman at her sample sales.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Just keep in mind, this is a place where Patti LaBelle befriended Indiana Jones.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Jingliang Su, a Chinese national, faces almost four years in prison for his role in crypto fraud that relied on befriending Americans on social media, then winning their trust in order to fleece them.
—Carlos Garcia, Fortune, 28 Jan. 2026
Their friendship goes back over 20 years, when Kobo was a graduate student at New York University and befriended Hoffman at her sample sales.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriend
Verb
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Sending his wife Luciana and all his family and friends our condolences.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Are former Squad members still friends with Piper Rockelle?—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The governor’s office encouraged individuals and organizations to join in lowering their flags.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
24 Feb. 2026
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Cooper was joined Monday by a victim and an investigator who learned of David Allen Funston’s pending release from a story Sunday by the Los Angeles Times.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriend. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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