as in joins
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriends
Divorced housepainter Eddie befriends Russell, his 8-year-old next-door neighbor; Russell’s mother has her hands full taking care of her aging mother and Russell’s troubled older brother.
—
Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
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
Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriends
joins
Verb
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The model joins celebrities like Nicole Kidman, Olivia Wilde, and Charlize Theron, who've been spotted at Paris Fashion Week so far.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Cuoco joins previously announced stars Ray Romano and Joshua Jackson in the pilot, which hails from writers Greg Berlanti and Bash Doran with a story by Berlanti, Doran, and Robbie Rogers.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriends. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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