as in joins
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriends
Keoghan, now 33, played Oliver, a student who befriends Felix and slowly becomes obsessed with him and his family while spending the summer at their home in rural England.
—
Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Monroe takes a supporting role in Greta, Neil Jordan’s psychological horror film about a young woman (Chloë Grace Moretz) who befriends a mysterious older woman (Isabelle Huppert in the title role) and soon finds she’s accidentally bonded with a monster.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
While in pursuit of the role, Simon befriends fellow actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley).
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 11 Oct. 2025
Writer-director Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship, which cast him as a lonely guy who befriends, alienates, then becomes fixated on a cool neighbor (Paul Rudd), has some great moments but falters midway through due to a predictable plot.
—Judy Berman, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
The new movie will follow a 12-year-old boy who befriends a golden retriever and pursues a basketball championship.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
In the film, child refugee David (played by first-time actors Álex Peláez and Hugo Encuentra) befriends Simón (Manolo Solo) on a boat travelling to a no-man’s land.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the details of Mamet's manila envelope scene line up perfectly with her last appearance on the show, which saw her character Joyce, a photographer who befriends Elizabeth Moss' Peggy, show off a series of graphic photos from a brutal crime scene.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
In the film, the 53-year-old actor will play a 70-something-year-old man who befriends a 70-year-old chicken.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
Monroe takes a supporting role in Greta, Neil Jordan’s psychological horror film about a young woman (Chloë Grace Moretz) who befriends a mysterious older woman (Isabelle Huppert in the title role) and soon finds she’s accidentally bonded with a monster.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2025
While in pursuit of the role, Simon befriends fellow actor Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley).
—Claire Franken, TVLine, 11 Oct. 2025
Writer-director Andrew DeYoung’s Friendship, which cast him as a lonely guy who befriends, alienates, then becomes fixated on a cool neighbor (Paul Rudd), has some great moments but falters midway through due to a predictable plot.
—Judy Berman, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
The new movie will follow a 12-year-old boy who befriends a golden retriever and pursues a basketball championship.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 23 Sep. 2025
In the film, child refugee David (played by first-time actors Álex Peláez and Hugo Encuentra) befriends Simón (Manolo Solo) on a boat travelling to a no-man’s land.
—Martin Dale, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
Additionally, the details of Mamet's manila envelope scene line up perfectly with her last appearance on the show, which saw her character Joyce, a photographer who befriends Elizabeth Moss' Peggy, show off a series of graphic photos from a brutal crime scene.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2025
In the film, the 53-year-old actor will play a 70-something-year-old man who befriends a 70-year-old chicken.
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriends
joins
Verb
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Working with DaCosta — who joins Todd Field and Christian Petzold in the roster of visionary directors Hoss has collaborated with — was another transformative experience.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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In the grander scheme, Big Pete joins his family across North Carolina to protect the grandmother tree.—
Khadejeh Nikouyeh,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Befriends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriends. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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