befriend
B1Semi-formal to formal. Common in written language, official documents, and advice; less common in casual spoken English than "make friends with".
Definition
Meaning
To act as a friend to someone; to make friends with someone.
To intentionally form a friendly, supportive, or protective relationship with another person (or, less commonly, an animal or entity). Often implies a proactive, somewhat formal, or slightly unequal initiation of friendship where one party takes the lead.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries a connotation of the subject being in a position of relative strength, kindness, or initiative (e.g., an older person befriending a younger one, a local befriending a newcomer). It is a transitive verb requiring a direct object (you befriend *someone*).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The term 'befriending' is more institutionalized in UK English, often used in charity and social care contexts (e.g., 'befriending services' for the elderly).
Connotations
Slightly more common and less formal in modern British English due to its use in social services. In American English, it may retain a slightly more literary or deliberate nuance.
Frequency
Marginally more frequent in UK English due to institutional usage.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Subject + befriend + Direct Object (person/group)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take someone under one's wing (similar proactive, protective sense)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May appear in networking advice: 'He strategically befriended key stakeholders.'
Academic
Used in sociological or psychological texts discussing social bonds and integration.
Everyday
Common in narratives: 'When I moved, my neighbour befriended me.'
Technical
Used in social work, charity, and mental health contexts to describe a formal supportive relationship.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The local charity aims to befriend isolated elderly residents.
- She was grateful when a classmate befriended her on the first day.
American English
- He made an effort to befriend the new guy at the office.
- The program pairs volunteers to befriend at-risk youth.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no direct adverb form.)
American English
- (Not standard; no direct adverb form.)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard; no direct adjective form. 'Friendly' is used.)
American English
- (Not standard; no direct adjective form. 'Friendly' is used.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The kind girl befriended the new student.
- My dog befriended the neighbour's cat.
- When I moved to London, a colleague befriended me and showed me around.
- It's nice to befriend people from other cultures.
- The organisation runs a scheme to befriend lonely seniors in the community.
- He was initially wary of her motives for trying to befriend him.
- The diplomat sought to befriend influential journalists to shape the narrative.
- Historical analysis suggests she strategically befriended powerful patrons to advance her career.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: Be + Friend = To 'be a friend' to someone. You actively choose to BE their FRIEND.
Conceptual Metaphor
FRIENDSHIP IS AN ACTION (YOU PERFORM). / SOCIAL CONNECTION IS A CONSTRUCTED OBJECT (YOU BUILD).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not equivalent to generic "дружить" (to be friends). "Befriend" is specifically the *act of initiating* the friendship. A direct translation of "Я с ним подружился" is better as "I made friends with him," not *"I befriended him"* unless you emphasize your own proactive role.
Common Mistakes
- Using it intransitively (e.g., *'They befriended'*). It requires an object. | Confusing it with 'friend' as a verb (to add on social media). 'Friend' is more specific and modern. | Overusing in casual contexts where 'make friends with' is more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'befriend' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is understood but less common in casual conversation than phrases like 'make friends with'. It's more frequent in written English, formal advice, or specific institutional contexts (e.g., volunteering).
Yes, the term can be used for initiating online friendships, though 'friend' (as a verb) or 'connect with' is more specific to social media platforms.
'Befriend' implies developing a general friendly relationship, often with personal interaction. 'To friend' (or 'to friend someone') is a newer, informal term primarily meaning to add someone to your list of contacts on social media.
Typically yes, but context can give it a neutral or even suspicious nuance (e.g., 'He befriended her only to gain access to her contacts'). It describes the action, not the ultimate moral quality.