befriend

verb

be·​friend bi-ˈfrend How to pronounce befriend (audio)
befriended; befriending; befriends
Synonyms of befriendnext

transitive verb

: to become or act as a friend to
befriended the new student

Examples of befriend in a Sentence

He befriended the new student.
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.
Neeson is like a friend of Meyers’s dad or the 40-year-old line cook who befriends a hostess at a Ruth’s Chris. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026 Lula is a champion of the Palestinian cause; Bolsonaro, like his father, has made a point of befriending the Israeli right. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026 The whale’s gullet is flickeringly lit by a bioluminescent jellyfish that Jay sort of befriends. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 Other standouts include Manon Gage as a trouble-making hippie; a very hungry brown bear; Joy Suprano as a budding feminist who befriends Pamela; and a prolific TV presence who guest stars in the second half of the season. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for befriend

Word History

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of befriend was in 1559

Rhymes for befriend

See All Rhymes for befriend

Browse Nearby Words

befoul
befriend
be friends with
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befriend. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

befriend

verb
be·​friend bi-ˈfrend How to pronounce befriend (audio)
: to become or act as a friend to

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