Meaning

(also figurative) To become a friend of (someone), to make friends with (someone)..

Definitions by Sense

1. (also figurative) To become a friend of (someone), to make friends with (someone).
2. (dated except social work) To act as a friend to (someone, especially a client) by providing companionship and support; to assist, to help.
3. (figurative) To benefit or favour (someone or something); also, to advocate or promote (someone or something).

Example Sentences

Good Seruilius, vvill you befriend mee ſo farre, as to vſe mine ovvne vvords to him?

[…] I was suddenly sensible of such sweet and beneficent society in Nature, […] Every little pine needle expanded and swelled with sympathy and befriended me.

This particular trainer who had repeatedly befriended "Willie" [an elephant] in many other ways, left the circus for a short time and upon returning to the lot approached him, thinking "Willie" would remember him. As he drew near "Willie" knocked him down and wrapped his trunk around his body. Only the intervention of the entire menagerie force saved him.

Befriending one of the 112 managing directors was not enough; you had to befriend a managing director with clout. There was one small problem, of course. Bosses were not always eager to befriend trainees.

"We had a professional relationship, whereas the previous vicar was a friend and had befriended me." / "Were you available to befriend people? You said it in a passive voice, as though others befriended you.

Negative sibling relations or harmful friendships during the childhood or teen years could make the adult Loner fearful of friendships. […] If you want to befriend the Loner, you have to be willing to show patience as he becomes more comfortable with you and what friendship entails.

Child sexual abusers are highly manipulative in their befriending of parents and children and are able to deceive all types of family.

[B]e ſure employ ſome of the Servants to hold the Horſe vvhen your Maſter mounts. This I vvould have you do, vvhen your Maſter only alights, to call in for a fevv Minutes: For Brother-ſervants muſt alvvays befriend one another, and that alſo concerns your Maſter's Honour; becauſe he cannot do leſs than give a Piece of Money to him vvho holds his Horſe.

Word Forms

• befriends
• befriending
• befriended
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• befriend
• befriendest
• befriendedst
• befriendeth
• -

Antonyms for befriend

Related Words

When Should You Use Befriend?

Use befriend when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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