befriend

verb

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

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.
Regan befriended Bridger, who died in 1881 blind and penniless after living his final years in Westport, and rubbed shoulders with the James brothers. Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2025 Toni Greenberg, 68, of Reisterstown, Md., who lost her husband about a decade ago, befriended two more recent widows on a 2023 trip to Rome with the tour company Road Scholar, and this year, the trio is traveling to Costa Rica together on another Road Scholar trip. Julie Weed, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025 Facing an epic bout of writers’ block while cooped up in a rotting Los Angeles hotel, Barton befriends a diabolically charismatic traveling salesman named Charlie (Goodman) who’s staying down the hall. Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025 As before, How To Train Your Dragon follows a young viking, Hiccup, who breaks dragon-hunting convention by befriending a fire-breathing beast, Toothless, and setting out on an adventure. Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near befriend

Cite this Entry

“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/befriend. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

befriend

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