as in to friend
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriend
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
But the series has so far introduced Storm End’s Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), the jovial lord also known as the Laughing Storm, who befriends Dunk in the first episode.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Lauren King Thompson is sweet, sunny and endearing as Thelma, the young soldier’s wife who Carrie meets and befriends at the bus station.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
So, once again, is Spike (Alfie Williams), a plucky, soulful-eyed twelve-year-old, who was befriended by Ian in the previous film, and who was last seen being rescued from a pack of the infected by a strangely menacing benefactor, Jimmy (Jack O’Connell).
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
But the series has so far introduced Storm End’s Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), the jovial lord also known as the Laughing Storm, who befriends Dunk in the first episode.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Lauren King Thompson is sweet, sunny and endearing as Thelma, the young soldier’s wife who Carrie meets and befriends at the bus station.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
So, once again, is Spike (Alfie Williams), a plucky, soulful-eyed twelve-year-old, who was befriended by Ian in the previous film, and who was last seen being rescued from a pack of the infected by a strangely menacing benefactor, Jimmy (Jack O’Connell).
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriend
Verb
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Are former Squad members still friends with Piper Rockelle?—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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What’s the difference, for you, between doing that with Black women friends your own age, versus someone who’s old enough to be a mother?—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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After interviewing for multiple head coaching jobs this month, McDaniel agreed to join Jim Harbaugh with the Chargers, who finished their second straight 11-6 season under their veteran head coach with another playoff exit in the wild-card round.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
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Coretta’s pacifism and support for civil rights led her to join the local chapter of the Progressive Party and attend its national convention in July 1948 as a student delegate.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriend. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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