besties

IPA/ˈbes.ti/
IPA/ˈbes.ti/

besties — noun

  • bestiessingular
  • bestiesesplural

1. the friends you feel closest to and trust the most, who you choose to spend lots

1.noun
Definition

the friends you feel closest to and trust the most, who you choose to spend lots of time with.

Example

Tamar and Lien have been besties since their first day at primary school.

plural subject: two people described as besties

Owen texts his besties every morning to share what he dreamed about.

possessive + besties for one person's close friends

Common collocations
  • be besties with
  • my besties
  • best besties
  • besties forever
Synonyms
  • best friends

    the full, neutral form; works in any register

  • close friends

    slightly wider; friends you trust but maybe less intense than besties

  • BFFs

    also very informal, from 'best friends forever'; common online

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

be besties with someone

Usage Note

Almost always plural and informal — used by friends about each other, common in texting and social media. The singular 'bestie' refers to one such friend.

Common Mistakes

She is my besties.
She is my bestie.
use the singular 'bestie' for one person; 'besties' names two or more.
We are bestie.
We are besties.
when two or more people share the bond, the plural form is required.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four name the people you are closest to, but they differ in register and warmth. 'Best friends' is the neutral, all-purpose phrase you can use in an essay or a job interview. 'Close friends' is slightly broader and cooler — it can include people you trust without the playful, almost cute feeling of the others. 'Besties' and 'BFFs' are both very informal and affectionate, the words friends actually use about each other in texts and on social media; 'BFFs' spells out 'best friends forever' and feels a touch more teenage. You might write 'My best friends came to the wedding,' but text 'miss you, besties!' to the same people.

besties ↗best friendsclose friendsBFFs

Common collocations

Phrases

  • my besties
  • best besties
  • besties forever

Prepositions

  • besties with

Etymology

English

'Besties' is the plural of 'bestie', an affectionate, informal pet form of 'best friend'. It takes the word 'best' and adds the friendly '-ie' ending English often uses to make something sound small or fond (as in 'doggie' or 'auntie'). The word spread quickly through texting and social media in the 2000s and 2010s.

First known use

1991

1991, in the meaning defined above