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friend

friend

∞ 1.0
A person you know well and like who is not family or a romantic partner
  • noun
  • /frɛnd/
: amigo
  • She has been my best friend since we were in kindergarten.
  • friends and family
  • make friends
  • best friend

So I'm going to go meet my friend Tim and eat.

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Examples

  • Being with my friends and making new friends was a huge part of the class.

    Academic text (2008)
  • So let's grab our friends and go play games.

  • My advice is to call your friends and say hi.

  • Love yourself, love your friends, love your life.

  • OK, first of all, these friends are terrible.

  • We know he was a friend of yours.

  • Most of my friends have moved out of London.

  • So I'm going to go meet my friend Tim and eat.

  • You'll have a friend for life.

  • But when I arrived at NCCU, I quickly found friends that I consider family today.

    Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

buddy
vsfriend
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

A close friend you spend time with

is a more general term for any affectionate non-family relation
pal
vsfriend
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

A close friend you spend time with

is broader and covers affectionate acquaintances not only activity partners
best friend
vsfriend
940 1.0

A person you trust most and talk to about everything

is a general affectionate label rather than a unique closest person
fellow
vsfriend
329 1.1

A friend who spends time with you regularly

is focused on affection and mutual bond rather than mere association
companion
vsfriend
326 1.8

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

is narrower, focusing specifically on affection and mutual liking
mate
vsfriend
  • UK
213 5.3

A person who is a friend, used in casual talk

is neutral and applies across genders in close personal relations
homie
vsfriend
  • Slang
131 8.6

A close friend often from the same neighborhood or background

is neutral and does not imply shared background or neighborhood
amigo
vsfriend
  • Informal
78 7.8

A person you like and trust, often a close friend

is the neutral term without cultural or informal colouring
chum
vsfriend
  • UK
62 6.4

A close friend you spend a lot of time with

covers any person with mutual affection, not only frequent company
compadre
vsfriend
  • Informal
40 7.3

A close friend you trust and spend time with

is the neutral descriptor for any affectionate non-family person
mutual friend
vsfriend
32 2.4

A person who is a friend of two people and known by both

is the individual affectionate relation, not defined by shared network ties
childhood friend
vsfriend
27 1.0

A person you have known since you were a child who is still close to you

is the general affectionate term without implying long shared history
homey
vsfriend
  • Slang
20 8.6

A close friend you know well and trust

is the neutral, standard word without casual or slang tone
bestie
vsfriend
  • Slang
19 7.2

A very close friend you trust and talk to often

is the general category for affectionate relations, not the closest
loyal friend
vsfriend
10 1.0

A person who always supports you and can be trusted

is neutral and does not stress loyalty or reliability
best pal
vsfriend
  • Informal
9 1.0

A person who is your closest and most trusted friend

is a general affectionate label rather than a unique closest person
intimate
vsfriend
5 5.1

A close friend you share personal things with

is broader, not requiring sharing of deeply personal information
schoolfriend
vsfriend
1 1.0

A friend from the same school as you

is the general term not tied to a specific shared setting
best guy friend
vsfriend
  • Informal
3.2

A male friend you feel closest to without any romantic interest

is gender neutral and does not single out closeness level or gender
3.2

A loyal person who helps you in good and bad times

is the general affectionate term without guaranteed constant support

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

A person who wants to harm or defeat you

∞ 1.0

A person you do not know

Idioms

1 8.4

Saying a question is for someone else when you really mean yourself

Compounds

940 1.0

A person you trust most and talk to about everything

lady friend
  • Informal
40 3.7

A woman who is in a romantic relationship with a man

32 2.4

A person who is a friend of two people and known by both

A person you have known since you were a child who is still close to you

10 1.0

A person who always supports you and can be trusted

2 7.9

A person or group not in a case who gives information about the law to help the court decide

2 5.6

A person who helps only when things are good and leaves during problems

2 9.9

A man who uses a private phrase to show he is gay

1 6.5

A pet bird often kept and loved like a parrot

1 5.6

A lower price that someone offers to a friend or regular customer

1 8.4

A person you have sex with but are not in a romantic relationship with

next friend
  • Formal
1 9.9

A person who speaks for a child or someone who cannot act for themselves in court

best guy friend
  • Informal
3.2

A male friend you feel closest to without any romantic interest

druggie friend
  • Offensive
9.1

A friend who often uses illegal drugs

A loyal person who helps you in good and bad times

A person you pick to do something with, like watching a movie

A friend who is also family through marriage, for example your spouse's brother

laid-back friend
  • Informal
3.0

A friend who is relaxed and does not get stressed easily

nepotism friend
  • Offensive
8.9

A person who gets a job because of family or a close friend

no-account friend
  • Offensive
8.3

A friend who cannot be trusted to help you

3.2

A person you write to and know only by letters, often never meeting

scalie friend
  • Jargon
9.9

A person who likes lizard characters and joins furry groups

How Close

best friend
940 1.0
friend
∞ 1.0
acquaintance
114 3.5

Surface Forms

friend singular
friends plural

Etymology

Friend comes from an old English word freond that meant 'one who loves' or 'is loved'. So a friend is someone who cares for you and has a close, trusted bond with you.