easy
Maya tried to befriend the new student.
What does Befriend mean?
Befriend means to become someone's friend.
Dictionary definition
To become friends with someone or act kindly toward them.
Example sentences
Befriend in a sentence
medium
The neighbor helped befriend the shy puppy.
hard
The story showed how one kind choice can befriend someone who feels left out.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice befriend in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Quick practice
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Practice the meaning of Befriend
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does befriend mean?
Befriend means to become friends with someone or act kindly toward them.
Practice 2
Which word is closest in meaning to befriend?
Welcome can be close to befriend when it means treating someone kindly and including them.
Practice 3
Which word is an antonym of befriend?
Exclude means to keep someone out, while befriend means to welcome or become friends.
Practice complete
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You completed 3 questions.
Pronunciation coach
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Befriend
Voice settings
Sounds like
bih · frend · strongest beat: frend
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordBefriend.
Partverb.
MeaningBefriend means to become someone's friend.
ExampleExample: Maya tried to befriend the new student.
Word breakdown
2 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- bih · frend
- Strongest beat
- frend
- Ending
- frend
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on frend.
Your turn
Say Befriend
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Ready when you are.
Nice work—you practiced befriend.
Synonyms
Words like Befriend
Antonyms
Opposite words
ignoreUse when someone is not noticed or included.
excludeUse when someone is kept out instead of welcomed.
Synonym practice
Want to practice befriend synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "Maya tried to befriend the new student," then compare close word choices. Practice befriend synonyms.
Word family
Befriend word family
Base word
friend
verb
befriend
To become friends with someone.
verb
befriended
Became friends with someone in the past.
verb
befriending
Becoming friends with someone.
Related words
Explore related words
Student support
Understand Befriend
Hint for students
Befriend means to become someone's friend.
Common mix-up
Do not use befriend as a guess from sound alone. Check the sentence to make sure the meaning fits.
Try it in class or at home
Read this model sentence: The neighbor helped befriend the shy puppy. Clue words: neighbor, helped, shy. Underline clue words that show why befriend fits instead of ignore. Now write one new sentence that shows befriend without using the word befriend. Ask: Does my sentence clearly show befriend?
Teacher prompt
Ask students to explain this model sentence: "The neighbor helped befriend the shy puppy." Why does befriend fit better than ignore?
Learning activities
Practice Befriend and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice BEFRIEND” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
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Sentence Builder
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Vocabulary Match
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Context Clue Challenge
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Synonym Search
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Explore · Scramble
Scrambled Bees
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