as in to friend
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriend
The movie follows a couple who befriend another couple, but a famous one, during a trip to Santa Barbara.
—
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2025
In the latter, Ladd played Flo, a candid and cutting waitress who shows her softer side while befriending Ellen Brustyn’s Alice.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
In fact, Kotevska followed Nikola’s family for a year and a half before the stork Nikola befriended even entered the picture.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
In Agent Cody Banks, Muniz starred as the titular high school student who is secretly a CIA agent, sent to befriend Natalie Conners (Duff), the daughter of a scientist who has invented killer nanobots that threaten to bring down the country.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Nov. 2025
In the latter, Ladd played Flo, a candid and cutting waitress who shows her softer side while befriending Ellen Brustyn’s Alice.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2025
In fact, Kotevska followed Nikola’s family for a year and a half before the stork Nikola befriended even entered the picture.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Oct. 2025
In Agent Cody Banks, Muniz starred as the titular high school student who is secretly a CIA agent, sent to befriend Natalie Conners (Duff), the daughter of a scientist who has invented killer nanobots that threaten to bring down the country.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriend
Verb
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Might friend Taylor Swift be on hand to introduce one of her musical performances?—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
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For a leveled-up beef bite, head on over to BEAR Steak Sandwiches, where longtime friends Ricardo Barrientos and Aki Erenberg have found the mathematically conclusive perfect ratio of steak to soft, tasty Portuguese buns in their beef sandwiches (no actual bears on the menu here).—
Gizelle Lau,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Even as federal funding resumes, local colleges, businesses and nonprofits are joining county agencies in maintaining relief efforts for as long as Sacramento-area residents need them.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
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In 2017, Nepal joined the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China’s vast infrastructure investment program.—
MUHIB RAHMAN,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriend. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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