English · Word Candidate

friend

/fɹɛnd/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: friends · friending · friended

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

người mà mình yêu quý và thích ở bên

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

"[…]if you have any wish to speak openly to me as a friend, or to ask my opinion of any thing that you may have in contemplation—as a friend, indeed, you may command me.—I will hear whatever you like. I will tell you exactly what I think." "As a friend!"—repeated Mr. Knightley.—"Emma, that I fear is

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

An associate who provides assistance; patron, mentor.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

người hỗ trợ, bảo trợ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my little pocket with halfpence.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

To add (a person) to a list of friends on a social networking site; to officially designate (someone) as a friend.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

thêm vào danh sách bạn bè

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

One of the most used features of MySpace is the practice that is nicknamed "friending." If you "friend" someone, then that person is added to your MySpace friends list, and you are added to their friends list.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

A Quaker; a member of the Society of Friends. (See also Friends.)

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Thành viên Hội Bạn bè

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “friend” mean?

A person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.

Is “friend” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.