befriend

verb

Definition of befriendnext
as in to friend
to become a friend to (someone) He befriended the new student.

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of befriend Having befriended Billy Ray Cyrus in the early ’90s, Parton was Cyrus’s honorary godmother and even lived up to that designation through guest spots on Hannah Montana. — Marah Eakin, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Cyrus’s father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus, befriended Parton in the 1990s and later asked her to be Miley’s godmother. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026 Sometimes Sam and Mymonie hosted Mike Karoub’s father, Hussien, whom Sam had befriended. — Rozina Ali, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026 Bruce Willis stars as a child psychologist who befriends a young boy (Haley Joel Osment) with an unusual ability. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for befriend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriend
  1. friend
  2. join
Verb
  • But this time Williams’ violence took the life of a boy who friends and family described as compassionate, shy, and kind.
    — Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2026
  • The discourse started to boil when the Duchess of Sussex declared to friend Mindy Kaling that her last name is now Sussex in season 1 of Netflix’s With Love, Meghan, which premiered in March 2025.
    — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
Definition of friend
Verb
  • Martin, 22, joined the Pride ahead of the 2026 season after signing her first professional contract with the club in January following a standout collegiate career at Georgetown University.
    — Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Volunteers rush to save livestock and help Ranchers For the past 48 hours, Garrett Duvall and the Rancher's Navy have been moving through the burn zone, joining dozens of volunteers and crews trying to save livestock and help ranchers recover.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of join

Browse Nearby Words

befouls
befriend
befriended
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriend. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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