as in joins
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriends
In season 2, Calam Lynch played Theo Sharpe, a printer's assistant who befriends Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) while trying to uncover Lady Whistledown's true identity.
—
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
The actress voices the mother of a character named Iris, who befriends the titular Arco.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 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
In a town plagued with sudden deaths and missing persons, a troubled eight-year-old girl befriends a boy that lives in the shadows, and her new stepmom learns why things that live in the dark don’t want to be seen.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
Gatto, to be directed by Luca filmmaker Enrico Casarosa, follows Nero, a water-hating black cat living in the picturesque city of Venice, Italy, who befriends Maya, a lonely street musician.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
The Iron Giant Set in a small American town during the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows Hogarth, a curious young boy who discovers and befriends a massive robot that’s fallen from the sky.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025
Youssef Hafyane smiles and befriends new people as well as enjoying old friends.
—Kelly Wilkinson, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Feb. 2026
The actress voices the mother of a character named Iris, who befriends the titular Arco.
—Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 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
In a town plagued with sudden deaths and missing persons, a troubled eight-year-old girl befriends a boy that lives in the shadows, and her new stepmom learns why things that live in the dark don’t want to be seen.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2026
Gatto, to be directed by Luca filmmaker Enrico Casarosa, follows Nero, a water-hating black cat living in the picturesque city of Venice, Italy, who befriends Maya, a lonely street musician.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
The Iron Giant Set in a small American town during the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows Hogarth, a curious young boy who discovers and befriends a massive robot that’s fallen from the sky.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025
Youssef Hafyane smiles and befriends new people as well as enjoying old friends.
—Kelly Wilkinson, IndyStar, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriends
joins
Verb
-
Buehler joins Chris Taylor (Angels) and Austin Barnes (Mets) as former Dodgers hoping to catch on with other teams this spring training.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Bates joins the defense company after most recently serving as chief digital officer at aerospace and defense systems company Collins Aerospace.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriends. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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