friend
friend
Pronunciation
friend
/frɛnd/
Syllable 1:
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel
/n/ - voiced alveolar nasal
/d/ - voiced alveolar plosive
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: friend
Plural Noun: friends
Possessive Singular Noun: friend's
Possessive Plural Noun: friends'
Adjective (derived): friendly
Adverb (derived): amicably (or in a friendly manner)
Verb (transitive, less common but exists in specific contexts): friend (to add someone as a friend on social media)
Verb (intransitive): befriended (past tense of befriend) - Note: "friend" as a verb is primarily used in the context of social media.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
friend
A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or familial relations. This bond is characterized by trust, support, and shared interests.
Synonyms: confidant, companion, comrade, pal, chum, ally, intimate, mate (informal)
Antonyms: enemy, foe, adversary, opponent, rival
(Informal) A person who supports a cause, group, or organization.
Synonyms: supporter, advocate, proponent, well-wisher, backer
Antonyms: opponent, detractor, critic, adversary
Verb
friend (primarily used in digital/social media contexts)
To add someone to one's list of contacts on a social networking site.
Synonyms: connect with, add, link up with
Antonyms: unfriend, block, disconnect from, delete
Adjective (Derived)
friendly
Showing kindness and pleasantness; amiable.
Synonyms: affable, genial, agreeable, cordial, warm, hospitable, amiable
Antonyms: unfriendly, hostile, antagonistic, aloof, cold, standoffish
(Of a place or environment) Favorable or welcoming.
Synonyms: welcoming, hospitable, agreeable, inviting
Antonyms: unwelcoming, hostile, inhospitable, alien
Adverb (Derived)
amicably (or in a friendly manner)
In a friendly and peaceful way.
Synonyms: cordially, harmoniously, agreeably, genially, congenially
Antonyms: hostilely, antagonistically, unpleasantly, bitterly
Examples of Use
Books:
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice) - While not directly using "friend," the entire premise of the novel revolves around social connections and the pursuit of companionship, often leading to the formation of friendships. A more direct quote might be, "My dearest friend, you have no idea how much I have missed you." (Numerous epistolary novels)
"You are my friend, and that is a thing I will never forget." (E.B. White, Charlotte's Web) - This iconic children's book beautifully illustrates the deep bond of friendship between Wilbur the pig and Charlotte the spider.
"Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, had two loyal friends by his side: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter series) - The concept of friendship is central to the entire series, highlighting loyalty and support.
Newspapers:
"Local man credited his friends with helping him through a difficult time after a recent layoff." (Nairobi Standard, Local News Section, June 28, 2025)
"Analysts suggest that the new trade agreement will foster stronger economic ties and make the two nations more 'economic friends' than competitors." (Financial Times, Business Section, June 27, 2025)
"The community organized a fundraiser for their ailing friend to cover medical expenses." (Daily Nation, Community News, June 29, 2025)
Online Publications:
"How to Be a Better Friend: Practical Tips for Nurturing Your Relationships." (Psychology Today, Blog Post)
"Top 10 Apps to Connect with New Friends in Your City." (Mashable, Tech Review)
"I just got friended by my old high school teacher on Facebook! So awkward." (Reddit)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series: "I'll be there for you, 'Cause you're there for me too." (Theme song of Friends, a popular 90s sitcom) - The entire show is built around the lives and friendships of six young adults in New York City.
Movies: "A good friend will always bail you out of jail, but a best friend will be sitting next to you saying, 'That was fun!'" (Commonly attributed humorous quote, found in various movie dialogues)
Music: "You've got a friend in me." (Randy Newman, Toy Story soundtrack) - This song perfectly encapsulates the theme of loyal friendship between the characters.
Video Games: "Player 1 has sent you a friend request." (Common on-screen notification in multiplayer online games like Fortnite or Call of Duty)
Social Media (Instagram/TikTok): "Spending the weekend with my best friends! #friendshipgoals #squad" (Common caption on photos/videos shared by users)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you do me a favor, friend?" (Everyday polite request)
"My friend recommended this new restaurant." (Casual conversation)
"He's a true friend, always there when you need him." (Describing someone's character)
"Let's be friends, not enemies." (Statement encouraging peace or reconciliation)
"I need to catch up with my old friends sometime soon." (Expressing a desire to reconnect)
10 Famous Quotes Using Friend
"A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same." (Elbert Hubbard)
"A true friend stabs you in the front." (Oscar Wilde)
"I get by with a little help from my friends." (John Lennon and Paul McCartney, The Beatles)
"The only way to have a friend is to be one." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me." (Henry Ford)
"It is not so much our friends' help that helps us as the confident knowledge that they will help us." (Epicurus)
"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out." (Walter Winchell)
"Show me your friends and I'll show you your future." (Proverb, various origins)
"Don't walk in front of me… I may not follow. Don't walk behind me… I may not lead. Walk beside me… just be my friend." (Albert Camus)
"God save me from my friends, for I can take care of my enemies." (Claude Louis Hector de Villars)
Etymology
The word "friend" has a long and interesting history, going all the way back to some of the earliest forms of language that eventually led to English.
Think of it this way: our word "friend" comes from a very old Germanic root that meant something like "to love" or "to be fond of."
Here's a breakdown:
Deep Roots: The journey of "friend" starts with a super old language called Proto-Indo-European. This was a language spoken thousands of years ago that is the ancestor of many languages spoken today, including English, Latin, Greek, and even Sanskrit. In Proto-Indo-European, there was a root that meant "to like, to love, or to please."
Proto-Germanic Connection: From that ancient root, we get Proto-Germanic (the ancestor of German, Dutch, Norse, and English, among others). In Proto-Germanic, the word was something like frijōndz. This word literally meant "loving one" or "lover," but it also referred to someone you had a bond with, a "friend." It's directly connected to the idea of being "free" or "beloved."
Old English: Fast forward to Old English (the earliest form of English, spoken before about 1150 AD). Here, the word was frēond. Its primary meaning was "a person with whom one has a close and informal relationship of mutual trust and intimacy." It also sometimes referred to a "lover" or "relative." So, the idea of a trusted companion was there from the very beginning.
Middle English to Modern English: As English evolved through Middle English, the spelling and pronunciation gradually shifted, but the core meaning of "a close companion" stayed pretty consistent.
So, in a nutshell, the word "friend" has been around for a very long time, and its meaning has always been tied to the idea of love, affection, and someone who is dear to you.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Friend
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "friend":
A friend in need is a friend indeed. (A true friend helps when you're in trouble.)
To make friends with someone. (To become friends with someone.)
To be on friendly terms. (To have a good, amicable relationship.)
Friend or foe? (Are you an ally or an enemy?)
To be friends with benefits. (A casual sexual relationship between friends.)
To become friends. (To start a friendship.)
To clear the air with a friend. (To resolve a misunderstanding or disagreement with a friend.)
To count on a friend. (To rely on a friend for support.)
To turn a blind eye to a friend's faults. (To ignore a friend's flaws.)
To lose a friend. (To end a friendship, often painfully.)
Fair-weather friend. (Someone who is only a friend when things are going well.)
To bury the hatchet with a friend. (To make peace with a friend after a disagreement.)
To stick by a friend. (To remain loyal and supportive to a friend.)
To friend request someone. (To send a request to connect on social media.)
To unfriend someone. (To remove someone from your social media friends list.)
A friend of a friend. (Someone you know indirectly through a mutual friend.)
My dear friend. (An affectionate way to address a friend.)
Friend of the court (Amicus curiae). (A legal term for someone not party to a case who offers information or expertise.)
To friend up (informal). (To become more friendly or amicable towards someone.)
To lend a friendly ear. (To listen sympathetically to someone.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of friend from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
