Definition

1. Transitive Verb:
   • To act as a friend to; to become a friend of: The verb "befriend" means to make someone your friend or to treat someone in a friendly, helpful way, especially when they are new, alone, or in need of support.

Usage and Examples

• General Usage: "Befriend" is used when describing the action of initiating or offering friendship. It often implies a deliberate, kind act from one person towards another.

  • She decided to befriend the new student who was sitting alone.
  • The old man befriended the stray cat and gave it a home.

• Formal/Reported Usage: It can be used in more formal or narrative contexts.

  • The organization aims to befriend and support refugees in the community.
  • He was befriended by a local family when he first moved to the city.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• Implied Asymmetry: The act of "befriending" often suggests a slight imbalance, where one person (the one who befriends) is in a position to offer friendship, help, or companionship to another.
  • The mentor made a point to befriend the young intern.
• Literary/Narrative Use: It is commonly used in storytelling to describe a character's action.
  • In the story, the hero befriends a mysterious creature in the forest.

Variants and Related Words

• Friend (n): A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
• Friendship (n): The emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends.
• Friendly (adj): Kind and pleasant; acting as or like a friend.

Synonyms

• Take under one's wing: To protect, mentor, or befriend someone.
• Make friends with: To become friends with someone (this phrase is more reciprocal, while "befriend" can emphasize the initiating action).

Antonyms

• Alienate: To cause someone to feel isolated or estranged.
• Shun: To persistently avoid, ignore, or reject someone.

Related Phrases and Idioms

(Note: "Befriend" itself is not typically part of phrasal verbs or common idioms. The related concepts are expressed through the noun "friend.") - A friend in need is a friend indeed: A proverb meaning a true friend is one who helps when you are in need. This relates to the supportive nature implied in "befriending" someone.

Verb

1. become friends with
   • John and Eric soon became friends
   • Have you made friends yet in your new environment?