befriend

/bɪˈfrend/ (bre, ipa) · /bɪˈfrend/ (ame, ipa) · /bi-ˈfrend/ (ame, mw)

befriend — verb

1. to build a friendly relationship with someone, often a person who is new, lonely

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to build a friendly relationship with someone, often a person who is new, lonely, or needs support

例句

Nina befriended the shy new girl during lunch on her first day.

befriend + new person at school

An older neighbor befriended Omar after his family moved into the building.

同義詞
  • make friends with

    more neutral and often stresses that the friendship grows on both sides

  • welcome

    can be kind and friendly, but it does not always mean a real friendship begins

  • take under your wing

    narrower; adds the idea of guiding or protecting someone

反義詞
  • ignore

    describes giving someone no friendly attention

  • shun

    stronger; means deliberately avoiding someone

文法句型

befriend + person

be befriended by + person

用法筆記

Object is often a person who is new, alone, or in difficulty. This sense commonly describes the gradual start of a friendship, and it is often seen in the passive when the focus is on the person receiving kindness.

常見錯誤

❌I befriended with the new student.
✅I befriended the new student.
💡befriend takes a direct object and does not use with.

2. to connect with someone on a social media platform by adding them as a friend

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to connect with someone on a social media platform by adding them as a friend

例句

Jared befriended his soccer coach on the team app after practice.

befriend + person + on platform

I only befriend classmates online after we have worked together in person.

online use: add as a friend

同義詞
  • add

    short everyday word often used when the platform context is already clear

  • friend

    common on some platforms, especially as a button or menu verb

  • connect with

    broader; may mean linking accounts, not specifically becoming platform friends

反義詞
  • unfriend

    to remove someone from an online friend list

  • block

    stronger; stops contact instead of adding it

文法句型

befriend + person + online

befriend + person + on + platform

用法筆記

Used for social-network or app-based friend lists, not for following someone or sending a private message. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense can describe a quick online action even if no real friendship develops.

常見錯誤

❌I befriended her account yesterday.
✅I befriended her yesterday.
💡the object is usually the person, not the account.