as in to friend
to become a friend to (someone)
He befriended the new student.
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Recent Examples of befriend
The only problem with this whole Hollywood Cinderella story is that Simon is secretly harboring superpowers, a big no-no for the entertainment industry, and Trevor has some ulterior motives in befriending this real-life superhero who wants to play a superhero in a movie.
—
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Their friendship goes back over 20 years, when Kobo was a graduate student at New York University and befriended Hoffman at her sample sales.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
But the series has so far introduced Storm End’s Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), the jovial lord also known as the Laughing Storm, who befriends Dunk in the first episode.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Lauren King Thompson is sweet, sunny and endearing as Thelma, the young soldier’s wife who Carrie meets and befriends at the bus station.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Their friendship goes back over 20 years, when Kobo was a graduate student at New York University and befriended Hoffman at her sample sales.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026
But the series has so far introduced Storm End’s Ser Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings), the jovial lord also known as the Laughing Storm, who befriends Dunk in the first episode.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Lauren King Thompson is sweet, sunny and endearing as Thelma, the young soldier’s wife who Carrie meets and befriends at the bus station.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for befriend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for befriend
Verb
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Are former Squad members still friends with Piper Rockelle?—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
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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?—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Former Super Bowl MVPs joined the band on stage and stood as Armstrong and his band finished up their set.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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But at the Milan-Cortina Games, several Americans have joined Shiffrin in speaking about the conflict of representing a country that may no longer be representing their values.—
Kevin Baxter Los Angeles Times,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Befriend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/befriend. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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