befriend

USAGE SUMMARY

'befriend' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an verb meaning to make a friend or become friends with someone. For example, "He was able to quickly befriend the other kids in his new school".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She'd hand out copies of the poems then being declaimed in pubs by the Edinburgh poetry scene's young guns, some of whom – Ron Butlin, Brian McCabe – Iain was later to meet, befriend and drink with (probably in those same pubs) as old hands.

The Guardian - Books

Its politicians occasionally come up with some odd statements, are sometimes disloyal to allies, sometimes rubbishing the politics of human rights (which under Havel passingly gave the country some sense of identity), and recently tried somewhat bizarrely to befriend China.

The Guardian - Opinion

Befriend the electrician that has visited your house five times this week, embrace a loyalty card to your local Indian restaurant, and one day you may look back on your days of living in squalor with pride.

The Guardian

America would do well to befriend changing Japan, rather than antagonise it.Japan may also start to play a bigger role abroad.

The Economist

Ilya Pavlov, who runs Multigroup, the country's biggest and most controversial conglomerate, once tied to Gazprom, Russia's giant gas company, is keen to befriend the king.

The Economist

"Will none befriend me?"Before anyone can catch him, he escapes.With the dawning of a new day, Don Giovanni is ready to start afresh.

The Economist

Divining who in the Kremlin has the president's ear is tricky; but among them, says Mr Mirsky, are some who are schooled to befriend "any thug in the world who declared himself anti-American".There are some, says Mr Simes, who feel Mr Putin and his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, were too obliging to America over Kosovo, Iraq and America's incursions in Central Asia.

The Economist

Given free rein to an extravagance she admitted "has no bounds", Lady Black encouraged her husband to befriend New York's super-rich elite.

The Economist

His first published poems, all addressed or dedicated to the absent girl, earned him a job as a gossipy literary columnist for the Paris-Journal, which allowed him to befriend (and irritate) André Gide, Paul Claudel and other popular French writers.

The Economist

And the party of Mao's workers and peasants is at least trying to show it can befriend China's new entrepreneurs too.Can it all last?

The Economist

These brokers reportedly ran what were dubbed "Friends of Frank" accounts, opened on behalf of executives of valued tech-company and venture-capital clients that Mr Quattrone hoped to befriend.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "befriend", consider the context and ensure it aligns with the intended level of formality. While generally acceptable, more formal situations might benefit from alternatives like "cultivate a relationship with" or "establish rapport with".

Common error

Avoid using "befriend" when the relationship is superficial or based solely on professional interactions. It implies a genuine, mutual connection, so opt for terms like "network with" or "collaborate with" when describing purely transactional relationships.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "befriend" is as a transitive verb. It describes the action of forming a friendly relationship with someone. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts, confirming its role in expressing the establishment of friendships.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Independent

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "befriend" functions as a transitive verb signifying the action of making friends with someone. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It sees frequent use in news media and encyclopedic content, suggesting a neutral register suitable for diverse contexts. While it effectively communicates the establishment of a friendly connection, writers should consider the level of formality required by the specific situation, opting for alternative expressions such as "cultivate a relationship with" in more formal settings. Avoid using "befriend" when the relationship is superficial; in such cases, "network with" or "collaborate with" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make friends with

A more common and general way to express forming a friendship.

become friends with

Similar to "make friends with", but emphasizes the resulting state of friendship.

strike up a friendship with

Suggests initiating a friendship quickly or spontaneously.

cultivate a friendship with

Implies a more deliberate and nurtured approach to forming a bond.

form a bond with

Focuses on creating a connection, not necessarily a friendship.

get to know

A less direct way of saying you are starting a friendship with someone, often implying an initial stage.

connect with

Broader than friendship; implies finding common ground or shared interests.

win over

Suggests overcoming initial reluctance or hostility to form a positive relationship.

ingratiate oneself with

Implies attempting to gain favor or acceptance through flattery or charm.

cozy up to

Suggests becoming friendly for personal gain or to manipulate someone.

FAQs

How do you use "befriend" in a sentence?

You can use "befriend" to describe the act of forming a friendship with someone. For example, "She tried to befriend her new colleague" or "The organization aims to befriend refugees and help them integrate into society".

What is a synonym for "befriend"?

Some synonyms for "befriend" include "make friends with", "become friends with", and "cultivate a friendship with".

Is "befriend" a formal or informal word?

"Befriend" is generally considered a neutral word that can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal options like "cultivate a relationship with" might be preferred in highly formal settings.

What's the difference between "befriend" and "get to know"?

"Befriend" implies actively forming a friendship, while "get to know" suggests a more gradual process of learning about someone, which may or may not lead to friendship.