Definition of “friend” - English Dictionary

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“friend” in English

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friendnoun [ C ]

us ​ uk ​ /frend/

friend noun [ C ] (PERSON YOU LIKE)

A1 a person who you know well and who you like a lot, but who is usually not a member of your family:

She's my best/oldest/closest friend - we've known each other since we were five.
He's a family friend/friend of the family.
This restaurant was recommended to me by a friend of mine.
We've been friends for years.
José and Pilar are (good) friends of ours.
We're (good) friends with José and Pilar.
She said that she and Peter were just (good) friends (= they were not having a sexual relationship).
I've made a lot of friends in this job.
He finds it difficult to make friends.
See also
befriend

› someone who is not an enemy and who you can trust:

You don't have to pretend any more - you're among friends now.

More examples

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Idiom(s)

a friend in need is a friend indeed
have friends in high places
what are friends for?
with friends like you, who needs enemies?

friendverb [ T ]

uk ​ /frend/ us ​ informal

› to invite someone to be your friend on a social networking website:

I friended her and sent her a message.

Friendnoun [ C ]

uk ​ /frend/ us ​ /frend/

(Definition of “friend” from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

“friend” in American English

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friendnoun [ C ]

us ​ /frend/

› a person you know well and like a lot, but who is usually not a member of your family:

I dreamed my school friends were being chased by a whale.
Today I got a call from a friend of mine.
Chloë was her best friend.
I moved to California, made friends (= became friends with people), and started dating.

› Friend can also be used when you are speaking to someone:

Well, friends, I think it’s time to go.

› A person or organization that is a friend to/of a group or organization helps and supports it:

The president has been no friend to small business.
The Senator was a friend of business interests.

(Definition of “friend” from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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