high school friends

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "high school friends" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to refer to someone's friends from high school, for example: "I ran into some of my high school friends at the reunion last weekend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

They were high school friends.

The New York Times

A lot of my high school friends were with gangs.

The New York Times

Some of them were my high school friends.

The New York Times

So was the collage of her high school friends.

The New York Times

He often entertained his high school friends by imitating a race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The New York Times - Arts

Partnering with two high school friends, he stocked it with widely flared jeans, candles and incense.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Dzhokhar's high-school friends remembered him fondly, too.

The New Yorker

They sit around the apartments of Jenny's high-school friends, drinking vodka and gossiping about other high-school friends whose lives are just as sorry as their own.

The New Yorker

De La Soul was formed in 1988 by three high-school friends in Amityville, New York.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Mr. Cole and other high-school friends don't recall that Mr. Cohen talked about Wall Street.

The New York Times

Compared with her high-school friends, the Auburn kids are "more focused," she told me.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about relationships formed during high school, use descriptive language to provide context. For example, instead of simply saying "high school friends", specify if they were "close high school friends" or "high school friends from the football team" to add clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all relationships formed during high school remain significant throughout life. Be mindful that people change, and friendships may evolve or fade over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "high school friends" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies a specific group of people, namely individuals who were friends during their time in high school. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples where the phrase acts as the subject or object of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "high school friends" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe friends from one's high school years. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used across diverse sources, predominantly in News & Media, and is considered neutral in register. When using the phrase, consider the specific context and the nature of the relationships you're describing to avoid overgeneralization. Remember to provide context where necessary to enhance clarity and avoid assuming the continued significance of these relationships throughout life.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

schoolmates from high school

Emphasizes the shared educational experience and shifts focus to the term 'schoolmates'.

friends from secondary school

Uses the term 'secondary school' which is synonymous with 'high school' in some regions.

people from my high school days

Expresses a similar concept with a more nostalgic tone.

high school buddies

Emphasizes a close and informal friendship.

high school peers

Highlights the aspect of being in the same age group and school environment.

former classmates

Highlights the aspect of being in the same class in the past, not necessarily friends.

people I knew in high school

A more general way of referring to acquaintances from high school.

childhood companions

Broader term indicating a longer period of friendship which includes high school.

old high school acquaintances

Highlights the less intimate nature of the relationships.

my graduating class

Focuses on people from same graduating year, not necessarily friends.

FAQs

How can I use "high school friends" in a sentence?

You can use "high school friends" to refer to people you were friends with during your high school years. For example, "I still keep in touch with some of my "high school friends"".

What is another way to say "high school friends"?

Alternatives to "high school friends" include "schoolmates from high school", "friends from secondary school", or "former classmates", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "high school's friends"?

No, "high school's friends" implies that the high school itself has friends. The correct phrasing is "high school friends", which refers to friends who attended high school together.

What’s the difference between "high school friends" and "college friends"?

"High school friends" are the friends you made during your high school years, while "college friends" are the friends you made during your college or university years. The distinction lies in the period and institution where the friendships were formed.