Friend Meaning

UK /frɛnd/
US /frɛnd/
Word Definition
friend meaning

Friend Definition & Usage

noun

A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.

Examples

  • "Sarah is my best friend, we've known each other since childhood."
  • "He spent the evening with his friends at the bar."
  • "They met through mutual friends and became inseparable."
  • "In college, I found many friends who shared my interests."
  • "A true friend will always be there to support you, no matter the circumstances."
noun

A person who supports or is on favorable terms with another, particularly in professional or strategic contexts.

Examples

  • "The company secured several friends in the industry to help with marketing."
  • "She is a good friend of the president and has influence in the policy-making process."
  • "We need more friends in Congress if we are to pass this bill."
  • "The general spoke of his long-standing friendship with the country's leader."
  • "Her friend in the government helped her get the necessary permits."
verb

To act as a friend to someone, often by offering support or companionship.

Examples

  • "He befriended the new student and showed her around the campus."
  • "After a few weeks, she finally befriended some of her colleagues."
  • "John went out of his way to friend the lonely neighbor."
  • "She friended him on social media after they met at the conference."
  • "It’s important to be kind and friendly to others to easily befriend them."

Cultural Context

The concept of 'friendship' is deeply rooted in human societies and has evolved over centuries. In ancient Greek philosophy, there were distinctions between different types of friendship: those based on utility, pleasure, or virtue. In modern Western cultures, the ideal of friendship emphasizes loyalty, mutual respect, and emotional support. In many non-Western cultures, friendships may also include deep familial-like bonds, even if there are no formal biological ties.

The Circle of Friends

Story

The Circle of Friends

It was a chilly fall evening when Emma, a recent college graduate, sat at a coffee shop, thinking about her life. She had always believed that true friends were the ones who stayed by your side through thick and thin. But today, she was questioning that belief. She had a friend, Sarah, who had always been there for her since childhood. They had shared countless memories, from the playground to late-night chats about their dreams for the future. But now, things seemed different. Sarah had become distant, wrapped up in her own world, leaving Emma to feel like an afterthought. As Emma stirred her coffee absentmindedly, she looked around the room and noticed a group of people laughing together, their energy contagious. One of them, a woman named Lily, had recently moved to the area and had been reaching out to Emma. Despite being relatively new to town, Lily had befriended her quickly, inviting her to coffee and sharing her own experiences of adjusting to a new life. 'Why not give it a shot?' Emma thought. She needed new connections, new friends. As the evening wore on, Emma and Lily began talking about their shared experiences of navigating adulthood and finding a sense of belonging. It felt easy, natural—like they'd been friends for years. But as they spoke, Emma realized something. Friendship was not just about the people who had known you the longest or the ones who had stood by you in difficult times. Sometimes, it was about the people who were there when you needed them the most. Lily had shown her what true friendship could look like in unexpected ways. Later that night, Emma texted Sarah, hoping to reconnect. 'I miss our old days, Sarah. Let's talk soon?' she typed. Then, she sent a message to Lily, too. 'Thanks for making me feel welcome. You’re a great friend.' As she set her phone down, Emma smiled, realizing that friends come into your life in all forms—old and new, close and distant. The circle of friends was ever-changing, but the support and companionship they offered were what mattered most.

The Circle of Friends