as in to friend
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriend
Still, others are happiest at a considered farm stay or upstate hideaway, where the pleasure lies in quiet mornings and befriending animals on the farm.
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Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2025
Friendship has a typical Robinson setup, dropping us into the life of an unremarkable white guy desperate to befriend his cool new neighbor.
—Anastasia Sanger, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
Gatto, to be directed by Luca filmmaker Enrico Casarosa, follows Nero, a water-hating black cat living in the picturesque city of Venice, Italy, who befriends Maya, a lonely street musician.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 22 Dec. 2025
The Iron Giant Set in a small American town during the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows Hogarth, a curious young boy who discovers and befriends a massive robot that’s fallen from the sky.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 22 Dec. 2025
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriend
Verb
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The Wizard gives Dorothy and friends their mission The titular character in The Wizard of Oz, introduced with a booming voice and torrent of emerald smoke, sends Dorothy and her three friends to the witch’s castle to kill her, promising their hearts’ desires.—
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What’s the difference, for you, between doing that with Black women friends your own age, versus someone who’s old enough to be a mother?—
Verb
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Jim Harbaugh also discounted any notion that his brother would join him with the Chargers in any capacity.—
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Warren joins former Boise State wide receivers coach Matt Miller and safeties coach Tyler Stockton in departing the program in recent days.—
Cite this Entry
“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriend. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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