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buddy

buddy

∞ 1.0
A close friend you spend time with
  • noun
  • /ˈbʌdi/
  • Informal
: colega
  • I'm here with my good buddy Travis Hazi.
  • buddy system
  • buddy program
  • buddy movies

So, so your buddy Tim, he doesn't make it.

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Examples

  • I came back to help my buddies out until we can all go home together.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I would do anything for him; he's been my best buddy since we were 10.

  • we might have to go back to our buddy there and get a sound card.

  • All right, buddy, it's all up to you.

  • Come on, buddy, show me your face.

  • All right, buddy, let's go.

  • A buddy of mine is making a documentary in the Sudan, and he's asked me to be part of it.

  • Decades later, the two are still best buddies living together in Boston.

  • I'm here with my good buddy Travis Hazi.

Synonyms

friend
vsbuddy
∞ 1.0

A person you know well and like who is not family or a romantic partner

is the informal regularly associating form rather than a neutral term
brother
vsbuddy
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

A man who is a close friend and feels like family

is broader used for regular association regardless of gender or group membership
best friend
vsbuddy
∞ 1.0

A person you trust most and talk to about everything

denotes regular association but not necessarily the absolute closest trusted person
pal
vsbuddy
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

A close friend you spend time with

is more about regular association than specific shared activities
mate
vsbuddy
  • UK
707 5.3

A person who is a friend, used in casual talk

is gender neutral and focuses on regular association rather than male usage
companion
vsbuddy
245 1.8

A person who stays with someone to keep them company and help with daily tasks

is more specifically about close friendship and regular association rather than general company
comrade
vsbuddy
183 3.8

A friend or companion who shares activities and experiences

is more general highlighting regular association rather than shared causes
homie
vsbuddy
  • Slang
145 8.6

A close friend often from the same neighborhood or background

emphasizes regular association regardless of neighborhood or background
amigo
vsbuddy
  • Informal
120 7.8

A person you like and trust, often a close friend

is the common informal label for regular association across languages
sidekick
vsbuddy
98 3.7

A close friend who helps and stays with someone, especially a hero

is less about assisting and more about mutual regular association
homey
vsbuddy
  • Slang
94 8.6

A close friend you know well and trust

is broader meaning regular association not just casual address
bro
vsbuddy
  • Slang
88 7.7

A male friend or a brother

is gender neutral and indicates regular association rather than masculine address
chum
vsbuddy
  • UK
57 6.4

A close friend you spend a lot of time with

is about regular association rather than intense time spent together
crony
vsbuddy
  • Offensive
52 6.3

A close friend in a small group who often gets special treatment

is neutral and highlights regular association rather than exclusivity or corruption
compadre
vsbuddy
  • Informal
36 7.3

A close friend you trust and spend time with

applies to regular association but with cultural usage rather than neutral form
fam
vsbuddy
  • Slang
29 9.5

Close family members or friends you care about

focuses on regular association with nonfamily companions rather than family ties
bestie
vsbuddy
  • Slang
20 7.2

A very close friend you trust and talk to often

means regular association but not necessarily the single closest confidant
loyal friend
vsbuddy
20 1.0

A person who always supports you and can be trusted

emphasizes regular association without requiring constant loyalty
best pal
vsbuddy
  • Informal
11 1.0

A person who is your closest and most trusted friend

suggests regular association but less intense than this closest relationship
bubby
vsbuddy
  • Informal
7 9.1

A friendly name for a close friend

is used as a general label for regular association rather than a direct address
intimate
vsbuddy
5 5.1

A close friend you share personal things with

focuses on regular association rather than deep private sharing
fellow
vsbuddy
1 1.1

A friend who spends time with you regularly

stresses friendly closeness while this focuses on regular company
cobber
vsbuddy
  • Australian
1 9.9

A close friend like a mate from school or work

is the general regular association term used in everyday conversation
bubber
vsbuddy
  • Informal
1 9.9

A friendly name people use to talk to a close friend

is the general term for someone you regularly associate with rather than an address
old bud
vsbuddy
  • Informal
1 8.1

A friend you have known for a long time, often since childhood

implies regular association but does not stress long shared history
bre
vsbuddy
  • South African
1 9.9

A close friend like a brother

is informal and local whereas the other denotes regular association in general
fast mate
vsbuddy
  • Informal
6.6

A close friend who spends a lot of time with you

indicates regular association but with less intensity than a very close label

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

A person who wants to harm or defeat you

Compounds

8 3.3

A way of putting two people together so they help and keep each other safe

buddy-buddy
  • Informal
8 8.0

Acting overly friendly in a way that seems fake or inappropriate

asshole buddy
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A friend who is rude or annoying but still loyal

How Close

best friend
∞ 1.0
buddy
  • Informal
∞ 1.0
friend
∞ 1.0
colleague
983 2.3

Surface Forms

buddy singular
buddies plural

Morphology

buddy = bud (semi-transparent) = bud + y

Formed from the colloquial noun 'bud' plus the productive suffix '-y'; the derivation is regular but 'bud' is also commonly known as a plant part, so learners may not reliably infer the friendship sense.

Etymology

The word buddy probably comes from the short word bud, which people in 1800s America used to mean 'friend', with the friendly ending -y added. Think of a plant bud as something small that stays close and grows from the stem, so a buddy is a close friend who sticks with you.