Befriend: meaning, definitions and examples

Appropriate when you want to express the act of forming a friendship with someone who may need companionship or support.

• He decided to befriend the new student who seemed very lonely.
• Sarah loves to befriend stray animals and give them a home.

Commonly used to simply express the act of starting a friendship, often in a casual or everyday situation.

• She quickly made friends with her new neighbors.
• Making friends with people from different cultures can be very enriching.

The present participle form indicates the ongoing process of forming a friendship. It can be used in various scenarios where someone's efforts to form a friendship are being described.

• She spends her weekends befriending elderly people at the care home.
• As part of his job, he is constantly befriending clients to build trust.

Used when you want to emphasize the effort and time taken to develop and maintain a deeper connection with someone. This term often implies a more deliberate and thoughtful approach.

• It's important to cultivate a friendship with your colleagues for a better work environment.
• They cultivated a friendship over many years, through ups and downs.