meet friends

USAGE SUMMARY

'meet friends' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone's plans to make social plans to meet with friends. For example: "Tomorrow night I'm planning to meet friends for dinner at a new restaurant downtown."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I'm not here to meet friends.

The New York Times

I meet friends in a café.

The New Yorker

Or perhaps we'd meet friends for dinner.

The New York Times - Arts

It's also a good place to meet friends.

The New York Times - Travel

He also skates to meet friends and do errands.

The New York Times

Runners are being directed there to meet friends and family.

The New York Times

He even left to meet friends and celebrate".

The Guardian - Sport

Instead, she made plans to meet friends in North Carolina.

The New York Times

But pubs are a nice warm place to meet friends.

The Guardian - Opinion

You'd meet friends in the Sunset and go in there.

The Guardian

9pm: Go to a coffee shop to meet friends.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the context. "Meet friends" is suitable for general use. For more specific situations, consider alternatives like "catch up with friends" or "hang out with friends".

Common error

Ensure clarity by specifying the purpose or location of meeting friends. Instead of just saying "I'll meet friends", add context: "I'll meet friends for coffee" or "I'll meet friends at the park".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "meet friends" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "meet" is the verb indicating the action of encountering someone and "friends" is the object. According to Ludwig, it is a common and correct expression. Its function is to describe a social interaction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "meet friends" is a grammatically correct and widely used verb phrase that expresses the action of socializing with friends. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. While versatile, consider the context for more specific alternatives like "catch up with friends" or "hang out with friends". The phrase is most frequently found in News & Media and Wiki sources, indicating a neutral to informal register. Remember to provide additional details, such as the location or purpose of the meeting, to enhance clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hang out with friends

Suggests a more casual and relaxed meeting with friends.

see friends

A more general term for encountering or visiting friends.

get together with friends

Focuses on the act of gathering or assembling with friends.

connect with friends

Emphasizes the emotional or social bond with friends.

socialize with friends

Emphasizes the social aspect and interaction with friends.

link up with friends

A modern and informal term for connecting with friends.

catch up with friends

Highlights the intention to reconnect and exchange news with friends.

visit with friends

Implies a more formal or planned meeting with friends.

join friends

Indicates becoming part of a group of friends or their activity.

spend time with friends

Focuses on the duration and quality of the time spent with friends.

FAQs

What's a simple way to rephrase "meet friends"?

You can use simpler alternatives like "see friends" or "hang out with friends" depending on the context. "See friends" is a straightforward way to say you'll be spending time with them, while "hang out with friends" implies a more casual encounter.

How does the formality of a situation influence the choice of "meet friends"?

While "meet friends" is generally acceptable, consider "socialize with friends" in more formal settings. For very informal situations, "hang out with friends" might be more suitable. "Socialize with friends" suggests a more structured or deliberate interaction.

Is it correct to say "meeting with friends" instead of "meet friends"?

Yes, "meeting with friends" is grammatically correct, but it often implies a planned or organized event. "Meet friends" is more general and can refer to both planned and spontaneous encounters. Depending on the context, choose the phrase that best reflects the nature of the interaction.

What are some alternatives to "meet friends" that emphasize the purpose of the gathering?

If the purpose is to discuss something, use "catch up with friends". If it's for a meal, say "meet friends for lunch/dinner". "Catch up with friends" focuses on exchanging news and information, while specifying the meal adds clarity.