Befriend

Pronunciation: /bɪˈfrɛnd/

Definitions of befriend

verb to act as a friend to; help; aid

Example Sentences

A1 I want to befriend my new neighbor.

A2 She decided to befriend her classmate who was sitting alone.

B1 He made an effort to befriend his colleagues at the new job.

B2 She was able to befriend people from different backgrounds during her travels.

C1 The diplomat knew how to befriend influential figures in order to achieve his goals.

C2 She had a natural ability to befriend anyone she met, making her a popular figure in social circles.

Examples of befriend in a Sentence

formal It is important to befriend your colleagues in order to create a positive work environment.

informal I decided to befriend my new neighbor by inviting them over for dinner.

slang I'm trying to befriend that cool guy from my class so we can hang out more.

figurative Sometimes it feels like my own thoughts befriend me, keeping me company in times of solitude.

Grammatical Forms of befriend

• past tense: befriended
• plural: befriends
• comparative: more friendly
• superlative: most friendly
• present tense: befriend
• future tense: will befriend
• perfect tense: have befriended
• continuous tense: is befriending
• singular: befriends
• positive degree: friendly
• infinitive: befriend
• gerund: befriending
• participle: befriended

Origin and Evolution of befriend

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'befriend' originated from the combination of 'be-' meaning 'to make' and 'friend' meaning 'companion or ally'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'befriend' has retained its original meaning of making someone a friend or companion, with no significant evolution in its usage.