Word
befriend
Phoneticsbe·friend, stress on the second syllable
US/bɪˈfɹɛnd/
UK/bɪfɹˈɛnd/
Definition
v. to become friends with someone. You use this when you start a new friendship.
v. to establish a friendly relationship with another person. Transitive — requires a direct object.
Examples
“I hope to befriend some locals while I am here.”
“The two students quickly befriend each other during their first week of the summer program.”
“While the initial meeting was purely professional, the two researchers eventually befriend one another over shared interests in classical literature and jazz.”
Examples
simple
“I hope to befriend some locals while I am here.”
contextual
“The two students quickly befriend each other during their first week of the summer program.”
complex
“While the initial meeting was purely professional, the two researchers eventually befriend one another over shared interests in classical literature and jazz.”
Real-World Examples
“At Kingsway college in 1976, he befriended an older kid with green hair whose favourite word was “dismal”.” “And try to befriend people who have cars.” Etymology
From be- + friend. Compare Saterland Frisian befrüündje (“to befriend”), Dutch bevrienden (“to befriend”), German Low German befründen (“to befriend”), German befreunden (“to befriend”). Compare also West Frisian befreone (“befriended”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/befriend