Word
buddy
Phoneticsbud·dy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbədi/
UK/bˈʌdi/
Definitions
01a friend
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Informal · American English
n. a close friend or a casual acquaintance.
n. a close friend or companion. Frequently used in American English to denote a peer.
“He went out for a few drinks with his old college buddies.”
“After years of working in the same department, they became close buddies who spent most weekends hiking together.”
02activity partner
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person you are paired with for a specific activity to help or stay safe.
n. a partner assigned to or chosen by an individual for a specific activity, often for mutual safety or assistance.
“The teacher told every student to find a buddy before we entered the museum.”
“In scuba diving, you must always stay close to your dive buddy to ensure help is available in case of equipment failure.”
03to pair up
B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal
v. to pair someone with a partner for an activity.
v. to assign a partner to an individual for a specific task or period, often used in 'buddy up'.
“We need to buddy up for the hike so that no one gets lost.”
“The manager decided to buddy the new recruits with experienced staff members during the first week of orientation.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “buddy” in context.
Verb
01. buddy up with a colleague
“New employees are encouraged to buddy up with a colleague to learn the ropes.”
verb + prep + noun
02. reconnect with a buddy
“Social media made it much easier for him to reconnect with his childhood buddies.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. close buddy
“He invited only a few close buddies to his private birthday dinner.”
adj + noun
04. drinking buddy
“They have been drinking buddies for years, meeting at the pub every Friday night.”
adj + noun
05. old buddy
“I ran into an old buddy from high school at the airport yesterday.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. buddy movie
“The film is a classic buddy movie about two mismatched detectives solving a case.”
noun + noun
07. buddy system
“The camp uses a buddy system to ensure that no child is ever left unsupervised.”
noun + noun
08. workout buddy
“Having a workout buddy keeps me motivated to go to the gym at six in the morning.”
noun + noun
Usage
Often used as a vocative ('Hey, buddy') or in compound nouns like 'study buddy' or 'gym buddy'.
Real-World Examples
“The more direct tie-in to American Graffiti is Richard Dreyfuss as Gordie LaChance, who narrates his memories as a novelist and father who’s gotten the perspective he and his buddies lacked as 12-year-olds.” “My highlighter yellow hammock became a beacon for my buddies to spot me across campus and come over for a quick chat or spontaneous hang.” Word family
NOUN
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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