be friendly with

USAGE SUMMARY

"be friendly with" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You would use it when you want to suggest that two people should be amiable and cordial with each other. For example: "You should be friendly with your new co-worker; it will make the transition much easier."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He says he strives to be friendly with everyone.

The Economist

I seem to be friendly with everyone on the road".

The Guardian

TRUMP: During his administration, Trump will be friendly with Putin.

The Washington Post

You may be friendly with them but they aren't friends.

The New York Times

He said it helped to wear his chef jacket and be friendly with the T.S.A. employees.

The New York Times

"I decided to be friendly with the man and have him think I was his friend.

Independent

"We have no choice but to be friendly with Iran," Mr. Zakhilwal said.

The New York Times

"There are geopolitical reasons to be friendly with Iran," he said.

The New Yorker

The mood appeared to be friendly, with the men smiling and occasionally laughing.

The New York Times

I know how friendly to be and who to be friendly with".

The New Yorker

"I try to be friendly with everyone I meet," she told me last year.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be friendly with", ensure the context is appropriate for the level of familiarity. It works well in general advice and informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "be friendly with" in highly formal or professional documents. Opt for more formal alternatives such as "maintain cordial relations" or "foster a positive working environment" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be friendly with" functions as a directive or suggestion to adopt a cordial and amiable demeanor towards someone. It is often used in advisory contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig, to encourage positive social interactions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Wiki

34%

News & Media

31%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be friendly with" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to encourage amiable and cordial interactions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its purpose is to foster harmonious relationships, often in informal or neutral contexts. While extremely prevalent across diverse sources like news outlets and wikis, it's advisable to consider more formal alternatives such as "cultivate positive relations" in professional environments. Remember to maintain context-appropriate language to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get along with

Focuses on having a harmonious relationship.

treat kindly

Emphasizes showing kindness and consideration.

cultivate a friendly relationship with

Emphasizes the intentional effort to build a friendly connection.

be sociable with

Stresses the act of being outgoing and social.

have a good rapport with

Highlights a mutually understanding and comfortable relationship.

show goodwill towards

Highlights demonstrating kindness and positive intent.

maintain cordial relations with

Suggests a more formal and professional level of friendliness.

build bridges with

Implies overcoming differences to establish a friendly connection.

befriend

Directly indicates the act of becoming someone's friend.

connect with

Focuses on establishing a personal connection.

FAQs

How can I use "be friendly with" in a sentence?

You can use "be friendly with" to suggest someone should be amiable and cordial. For example, "It's important to "be friendly with" your neighbors to build a strong community."

What are some alternatives to "be friendly with"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "get along with", "have a good rapport with", or "maintain cordial relations with".

Is "be friendly with" formal or informal?

"Be friendly with" tends to be more informal. In professional settings, using phrases like "cultivate a positive relationship with" may be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "be friendly with" and "become friends with"?

"Be friendly with" implies being amiable and cordial, while "become friends with" suggests a deeper, more personal connection is forming.