chum

Examples

• All

• Swimming time again, old chum.

  Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

• I was just catching up with old chums.

  The Laureate (2023)

• Okay, chum, what do we do now?

  The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

• "I hear my old chum Bull was just here to see you."

  Fiction book (1998)

• Did you have a nice chat with your chum Burton, eh?

  Mean Machine (2001)

• Frank would probably be out at the bar with his chums if he wasn't at work.

  Fiction book (1995)

• The bride was one of her college chums—the first in her class to get married.

  Fiction book (1999)

• He's been my best chum since childhood, and we share everything with each other.

• After school, I always hang out with my chums, and we have a great time together.

• I invited my old chum to my birthday party because we haven't seen each other in years.

Synonyms

F

friend

vschum

∞ 1.0

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

stresses spending much time together as a defining element of the bond

B

buddy

vschum

• Informal

∞ 1.0

A close friend you spend time with

emphasizes long continuous time together rather than mere regular contact

P

pal

vschum

• Informal

∞ 1.0

A close friend you spend time with

focuses more on long regular time spent together

C

companion

vschum

326 1.8

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

is narrower focusing on friendship and long shared time rather than mere company

M

mate

vschum

• UK

213 5.3

A person who is a friend, used in casual talk

is gender neutral and focuses on time spent together not male ties

H

homie

vschum

• Slang

131 8.6

A close friend often from the same neighborhood or background

is about close companionship without implying shared neighborhood or background

S

sidekick

vschum

108 3.7

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

refers more generally to mutual closeness and shared time not helper role

A

amigo

vschum

• Informal

78 7.8

A person you like and trust, often a close friend

serves as the wider term for a companion without specific language ties

C

crony

vschum

• Offensive

69 6.3

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

is the neutral term for close companions without group bias or negative sense

C

compadre

vschum

• Informal

40 7.3

A close friend you trust and spend time with

is the neutral word for a close companion across different communities

H

homey

vschum

• Slang

20 8.6

A close friend you know well and trust

applies more broadly to close companions beyond casual conversational tone

B

bestie

vschum

• Slang

19 7.2

A very close friend you trust and talk to often

describes a close companion more generally rather than the absolute closest

B

best pal

vschum

• Informal

9 1.0

A person who is your closest and most trusted friend

means a close companion without implying the very closest in all cases

B

bubby

vschum

• Informal

8 9.1

A friendly name for a close friend

is used as a general noun for close companions not only as address

C

choom

vschum

• Slang

1 9.9

A close friend you spend time with, often online or in games

refers more broadly to close companions across all real world situations

B

bum chum

vschum

• UK

1 9.9

A close friend you do many things with

is the general term for close companions without joking British flavour

Antonyms

E

enemy

∞ 1.0

A person who wants to harm or defeat you

S

stranger

∞ 1.0

A person you do not know

Idioms

C

chum in the water

• Informal

9.8

Exposed and easy for others to attack or criticize

Compounds

B

bum chum

• UK

1 9.9

A close friend you do many things with

C

chum salmon

• Specialized

1 6.3

A large Pacific fish with small spots on its back that people eat

How Close

loyal friend

10 1.0

chum

• UK

62 6.4

friend

∞ 1.0

acquaintance

114 3.5

Surface Forms

Etymology