pal

1 of 2

noun

ˈpal How to pronounce pal (audio)
Synonyms of palnext
: a close friend
palship
ˈpal-ˌship How to pronounce pal (audio)
noun

pal

2 of 2

verb

palled; palling

intransitive verb

: to be or become pals : associate as pals
they've palled around for years

Synonyms of pal

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Noun

Verb

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Examples of pal in a Sentence

Noun We've been pals since we were kids. Come on—be a pal and lend me the money. Verb they began to pal around after discovering that they both had kids on the same soccer team
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Having Murphy nearby allowed the two longtime pals to while away the summer in tandem. — Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 6 July 2026 The pair have collaborated frequently on their music, so why not collaborate on the the most special day of his pal's life? — Grace Gavilanes, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026 That list includes Swift's longtime pal Ed Sheeran, who is evidently in New York already. — Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Eagle-eyed fans shared videos of the model in the stands, rather than in the VIP section where Swift’s celeb pals and relatives would hang out at each show, per People. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Romani phral, phal brother, friend, from Sanskrit bhrātṛ brother; akin to Old English brōthor brother

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pal was in 1875

Phrases Containing pal

Rhymes for pal

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Browse Nearby Words

paktong
pal
pala
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Cite this Entry

“Pal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pal. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pal

1 of 2 noun
ˈpal How to pronounce pal (audio)
: a close friend

pal

2 of 2 verb
palled; palling
: to be or become pals

Legal Definition

PAL

abbreviation
passive activity loss

More from Merriam-Webster on pal

Nglish: Translation of pal for Spanish Speakers

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