Synonyms

befriend

American

[bih-frend] / bɪˈfrɛnd /

verb (used with object)

to make friends or become friendly with; act as a friend to; help; aid.

to befriend the lonely and the disregarded.

Synonyms:

welcome, succor, sustain, encourage, assist, associate, ally

befriend British

/ bɪˈfrɛnd /

verb

(tr) to be a friend to; assist; favour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

unbefriended adjective

Etymology

Origin of befriend

First recorded in 1550–60; be- + friend

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In one email Ferguson congratulates Epstein on the arrival of a "baby boy", before following up by accusing him of only befriending her "to get to Andrew".

From BBC

He befriends Mr. Durand, who owns the station with his partner, Emma, a British researcher, and makes it his mission to keep their station going and the forest around it intact.

From The Wall Street Journal

Imagine a 21st century take on Margaret Mead befriending Samoans, only with cozy knit sweaters and a dash of animation.

From Los Angeles Times

After befriending one of Smith's managers Ellis made a request: "Can you get me five minutes with Will, but just me and him? I don't want the cameras."

From BBC

An Army captain, he first befriended the late Hugo Chávez on a baseball team during their days in the military academy.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023