pal

1 of 2

noun

: a close friend
palship noun

pal

2 of 2

verb

palled; palling

intransitive verb

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

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
Also at the Swift table were Margaret Qualley and Swift's producer pal Jack Antonoff. Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025 Comic and illusionist Penn Jillette also contributed a biographical essay about his close friend, and another pal, comedy roast specialist Jeff Ross, came up with the album title, and one side of the double album is etched with a reproduction of Gilbert’s artwork, Chico Needed the Money. Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 3 Feb. 2025 The red dots didn’t come from two rifles but from Jesse’s (Aaron Paul) old pals Badger (Matt Jones) and Skinny Pete (Charles Baker), who Walt has paid handsomely (but far less than two hitmen would cost) to aim laser pointers into the Schwartz house. Will Harris, EW.com, 31 Jan. 2025 Rather than gunning from his gut, Trump had reams of drafted ideas at the ready thanks to his pals in Washington’s back-hall think tanks and their Project 2025 agenda. Philip Elliott, TIME, 22 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near pal

Cite this Entry

“Pal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pal. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

pal

1 of 2 noun
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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