"best friend" meaning in English

See best friend in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

Forms: best friends [plural]
Etymology: From Middle English best frend, best freond, equivalent to best + friend. Compare West Frisian bêste freon (“best friend”), Dutch beste vriend (“best friend”), German bester Freund (“best friend”). Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|best frend}} Middle English best frend, {{m|enm|best freond}} best freond, {{af|en|best|friend}} best + friend, {{cog|fy|bêste freon|t=best friend}} West Frisian bêste freon (“best friend”), {{cog|nl|beste vriend|t=best friend}} Dutch beste vriend (“best friend”), {{cog|de|bester Freund|t=best friend}} German bester Freund (“best friend”) Head templates: {{en-noun}} best friend (plural best friends)
  1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see best, friend. Synonyms: boon companion, BFF, bestie, bosom friend Derived forms: best friend forever Related terms: best girl, best man
    Sense id: en-best_friend-en-noun-RcMHs7qt Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English entries with language name categories using raw markup, English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 54 5 41 Disambiguation of English entries with language name categories using raw markup: 63 5 32 Disambiguation of English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys: 60 6 34
  2. An especially close and trusted friend. Translations (an especially close and trusted friend): أَفْضَل صَدِيق (ʔafḍal ṣadīq) [masculine] (Arabic), فُضْلَى صَدِيقَة (fuḍlā ṣadīqa) [feminine] (Arabic), най-добъ́р прия́тел (naj-dobǎ́r prijátel) [masculine] (Bulgarian), най-добра́ прия́телка (naj-dobrá prijátelka) [feminine] (Bulgarian), millor amic [masculine] (Catalan), millor amiga [feminine] (Catalan), 最好的朋友 (zuìhǎo de péngyou) (Chinese Mandarin), parim sõber (Estonian), paras kaveri (Finnish), bestis [informal] (Finnish), meilleur ami [masculine] (French), meilleure amie [feminine] (French), bester Freund [masculine] (German), beste Freundin [feminine] (German), κολλητός (kollitós) [masculine] (Greek), κολλητή (kollití) [feminine] (Greek), सबसे अच्छा दोस्त (sabse acchā dost) (Hindi), besti vinur [masculine] (Icelandic), besta vinkona [feminine] (Icelandic), teman akrab (Indonesian), sahabat akrab (Indonesian), teman karib (Indonesian), sahabat karib (Indonesian), kawan akrab (Indonesian), kawan karib (Indonesian), príomhchara [masculine] (Irish), dlúthchara [masculine] (Irish), 절친 (jeolchin) (alt: 切親) (Korean), 베프 (bepeu) (Korean), kawan rapat (Malay), sahabat rapat (Malay), teman rapat (Malay), rakan rapat (Malay), kawan karib (Malay), sahabat karib (Malay), teman karib (Malay), rakan karib (Malay), bestevenn [also, masculine, separable] (Norwegian Bokmål), bestevenninne [feminine] (Norwegian Bokmål), besteven [also, masculine, separable] (Norwegian Nynorsk), bestevenn [masculine] (Norwegian Nynorsk), besteveninne [feminine] (Norwegian Nynorsk), bestevenninne [feminine] (Norwegian Nynorsk), przyjaciel [masculine] (Polish), przyjaciółka [feminine] (Polish), melhor amigo [masculine] (Portuguese), melhores amigos [masculine, plural] (Portuguese), melhor amiga [feminine] (Portuguese), melhores amigas [feminine, plural] (Portuguese), cel mai bun prieten [masculine] (Romanian), cea mai bună prietenă [feminine] (Romanian), прия́тель (prijátelʹ) [masculine] (Russian), прия́тельница (prijátelʹnica) [feminine] (Russian), mejor amigo [masculine] (Spanish), mejor amiga [feminine] (Spanish), bästa vän [common-gender] (Swedish), bäste vän [common-gender] (Swedish), bästis [common-gender] (Swedish), matalik na kaibigan (Tagalog), beshie (Tagalog), bes (Tagalog), நெருங்கிய நண்பன் (neruṅkiya naṇpaṉ) (Tamil), சிறந்த நண்பன் (ciṟanta naṇpaṉ) (Tamil), kanka (Turkish), найкра́щий друг (najkráščyj druh) [masculine] (Ukrainian), ffrind pennaf [masculine] (Welsh)
    Sense id: en-best_friend-en-noun-Tv3fSCP8 Disambiguation of 'an especially close and trusted friend': 3 96 1
  3. (informal) An object or concept considered very useful or helpful to someone. Tags: informal
    Sense id: en-best_friend-en-noun-hw79xefA

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for best friend meaning in English (14.2kB)

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "worst enemy"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "best frend"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English best frend",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "best freond"
      },
      "expansion": "best freond",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "best",
        "3": "friend"
      },
      "expansion": "best + friend",
      "name": "af"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fy",
        "2": "bêste freon",
        "t": "best friend"
      },
      "expansion": "West Frisian bêste freon (“best friend”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "beste vriend",
        "t": "best friend"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch beste vriend (“best friend”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "bester Freund",
        "t": "best friend"
      },
      "expansion": "German bester Freund (“best friend”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English best frend, best freond, equivalent to best + friend. Compare West Frisian bêste freon (“best friend”), Dutch beste vriend (“best friend”), German bester Freund (“best friend”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "best friends",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "best friend (plural best friends)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "54 5 41",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "63 5 32",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with language name categories using raw markup",
            "Entry maintenance"
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "60 6 34",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "_dis1": "56 44 0",
          "word": "best friend forever"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see best, friend."
      ],
      "id": "en-best_friend-en-noun-RcMHs7qt",
      "links": [
        [
          "best",
          "best#English"
        ],
        [
          "friend",
          "friend#English"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "_dis1": "56 44 0",
          "word": "best girl"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "56 44 0",
          "word": "best man"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "_dis1": "56 44 0",
          "word": "boon companion"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "56 44 0",
          "word": "BFF"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "56 44 0",
          "word": "bestie"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "56 44 0",
          "word": "bosom friend"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1994, Penny Vincenzi, Wicked Pleasures, page 46",
          "text": "I know you and Virginia are on best-friend terms.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2001, Lauren, “To me a best friend is everything”, in Marilyn Kielbasa, Janet Claussen, editors, Listen for a Whisper: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections by Girls",
          "text": "A best friend is always there for you, even when no one else is.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Kenneth D. George, Keeping Mr. Right",
          "text": "Being best friends means giving up control and allowing ourselves to become vulnerable.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An especially close and trusted friend."
      ],
      "id": "en-best_friend-en-noun-Tv3fSCP8",
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "ʔafḍal ṣadīq",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "أَفْضَل صَدِيق"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "roman": "fuḍlā ṣadīqa",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "فُضْلَى صَدِيقَة"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "naj-dobǎ́r prijátel",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "най-добъ́р прия́тел"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "roman": "naj-dobrá prijátelka",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "най-добра́ прия́телка"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "millor amic"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "millor amiga"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "zuìhǎo de péngyou",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "最好的朋友"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "et",
          "lang": "Estonian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "parim sõber"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "paras kaveri"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "informal"
          ],
          "word": "bestis"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "meilleur ami"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "meilleure amie"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "bester Freund"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "beste Freundin"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "kollitós",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "κολλητός"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "kollití",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "κολλητή"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "hi",
          "lang": "Hindi",
          "roman": "sabse acchā dost",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "सबसे अच्छा दोस्त"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "is",
          "lang": "Icelandic",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "besti vinur"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "is",
          "lang": "Icelandic",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "besta vinkona"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "teman akrab"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "sahabat akrab"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "teman karib"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "sahabat karib"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "kawan akrab"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "id",
          "lang": "Indonesian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "kawan karib"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "príomhchara"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ga",
          "lang": "Irish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "dlúthchara"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "alt": "切親",
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "jeolchin",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "절친"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ko",
          "lang": "Korean",
          "roman": "bepeu",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "베프"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "kawan rapat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "sahabat rapat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "teman rapat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "rakan rapat"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "kawan karib"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "sahabat karib"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "teman karib"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "rakan karib"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "nb",
          "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "also",
            "masculine",
            "separable"
          ],
          "word": "bestevenn"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "nb",
          "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "bestevenninne"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "nn",
          "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "also",
            "masculine",
            "separable"
          ],
          "word": "besteven"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "nn",
          "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "bestevenn"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "nn",
          "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "besteveninne"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "nn",
          "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "bestevenninne"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "przyjaciel"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "przyjaciółka"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "melhor amigo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine",
            "plural"
          ],
          "word": "melhores amigos"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "melhor amiga"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine",
            "plural"
          ],
          "word": "melhores amigas"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "cel mai bun prieten"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ro",
          "lang": "Romanian",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "cea mai bună prietenă"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "prijátelʹ",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "прия́тель"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "prijátelʹnica",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "прия́тельница"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "mejor amigo"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "mejor amiga"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "bästa vän"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "bäste vän"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "common-gender"
          ],
          "word": "bästis"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "tl",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "matalik na kaibigan"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "tl",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "beshie"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "tl",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "bes"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ta",
          "lang": "Tamil",
          "roman": "neruṅkiya naṇpaṉ",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "நெருங்கிய நண்பன்"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "ta",
          "lang": "Tamil",
          "roman": "ciṟanta naṇpaṉ",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "சிறந்த நண்பன்"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "word": "kanka"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "roman": "najkráščyj druh",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "найкра́щий друг"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "3 96 1",
          "code": "cy",
          "lang": "Welsh",
          "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "ffrind pennaf"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2005, Jeff Davidson, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Things Done, Penguin, page 212",
          "text": "You might even say, the bigger the problem, the greater your creative potential. The problem you're facing is your best friend because it will help to bring out the best in you.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2006, Christopher Duncan, The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World, Apress",
          "text": "As an entrepreneur, a conservative financial outlook is your best friend. Live to fight another day. Running a business also involves a host of legal issues. Talk to some people you respect and trust, get some recommendations, and hire a good lawyer and accountant.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2010, Art Seamans, I See, Said the Blind Man, AuthorHouse, page 48",
          "text": "An instructor informed us that in battle, your rifle is your best friend.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An object or concept considered very useful or helpful to someone."
      ],
      "id": "en-best_friend-en-noun-hw79xefA",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(informal) An object or concept considered very useful or helpful to someone."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "best friend"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "worst enemy"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English adjective-noun compound nouns",
    "English compound terms",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English entries with language name categories using raw markup",
    "English lemmas",
    "English multiword terms",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms with non-redundant non-automated sortkeys"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "best friend forever"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "best frend"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English best frend",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "best freond"
      },
      "expansion": "best freond",
      "name": "m"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "best",
        "3": "friend"
      },
      "expansion": "best + friend",
      "name": "af"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "fy",
        "2": "bêste freon",
        "t": "best friend"
      },
      "expansion": "West Frisian bêste freon (“best friend”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "beste vriend",
        "t": "best friend"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch beste vriend (“best friend”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "bester Freund",
        "t": "best friend"
      },
      "expansion": "German bester Freund (“best friend”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English best frend, best freond, equivalent to best + friend. Compare West Frisian bêste freon (“best friend”), Dutch beste vriend (“best friend”), German bester Freund (“best friend”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "best friends",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "best friend (plural best friends)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "best girl"
    },
    {
      "word": "best man"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see best, friend."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "best",
          "best#English"
        ],
        [
          "friend",
          "friend#English"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1994, Penny Vincenzi, Wicked Pleasures, page 46",
          "text": "I know you and Virginia are on best-friend terms.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2001, Lauren, “To me a best friend is everything”, in Marilyn Kielbasa, Janet Claussen, editors, Listen for a Whisper: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections by Girls",
          "text": "A best friend is always there for you, even when no one else is.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Kenneth D. George, Keeping Mr. Right",
          "text": "Being best friends means giving up control and allowing ourselves to become vulnerable.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An especially close and trusted friend."
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English informal terms",
        "English terms with quotations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "2005, Jeff Davidson, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Getting Things Done, Penguin, page 212",
          "text": "You might even say, the bigger the problem, the greater your creative potential. The problem you're facing is your best friend because it will help to bring out the best in you.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2006, Christopher Duncan, The Career Programmer: Guerilla Tactics for an Imperfect World, Apress",
          "text": "As an entrepreneur, a conservative financial outlook is your best friend. Live to fight another day. Running a business also involves a host of legal issues. Talk to some people you respect and trust, get some recommendations, and hire a good lawyer and accountant.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2010, Art Seamans, I See, Said the Blind Man, AuthorHouse, page 48",
          "text": "An instructor informed us that in battle, your rifle is your best friend.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "An object or concept considered very useful or helpful to someone."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(informal) An object or concept considered very useful or helpful to someone."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "informal"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "boon companion"
    },
    {
      "word": "BFF"
    },
    {
      "word": "bestie"
    },
    {
      "word": "bosom friend"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "ʔafḍal ṣadīq",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "أَفْضَل صَدِيق"
    },
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "roman": "fuḍlā ṣadīqa",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "فُضْلَى صَدِيقَة"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "naj-dobǎ́r prijátel",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "най-добъ́р прия́тел"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "roman": "naj-dobrá prijátelka",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "най-добра́ прия́телка"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "millor amic"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "millor amiga"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "zuìhǎo de péngyou",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "最好的朋友"
    },
    {
      "code": "et",
      "lang": "Estonian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "parim sõber"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "paras kaveri"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "informal"
      ],
      "word": "bestis"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "meilleur ami"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "meilleure amie"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "bester Freund"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "beste Freundin"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "kollitós",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "κολλητός"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "kollití",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "κολλητή"
    },
    {
      "code": "hi",
      "lang": "Hindi",
      "roman": "sabse acchā dost",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "सबसे अच्छा दोस्त"
    },
    {
      "code": "is",
      "lang": "Icelandic",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "besti vinur"
    },
    {
      "code": "is",
      "lang": "Icelandic",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "besta vinkona"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "teman akrab"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "sahabat akrab"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "teman karib"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "sahabat karib"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "kawan akrab"
    },
    {
      "code": "id",
      "lang": "Indonesian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "kawan karib"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "príomhchara"
    },
    {
      "code": "ga",
      "lang": "Irish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "dlúthchara"
    },
    {
      "alt": "切親",
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "jeolchin",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "절친"
    },
    {
      "code": "ko",
      "lang": "Korean",
      "roman": "bepeu",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "베프"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "kawan rapat"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "sahabat rapat"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "teman rapat"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "rakan rapat"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "kawan karib"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "sahabat karib"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "teman karib"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "rakan karib"
    },
    {
      "code": "nb",
      "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "also",
        "masculine",
        "separable"
      ],
      "word": "bestevenn"
    },
    {
      "code": "nb",
      "lang": "Norwegian Bokmål",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "bestevenninne"
    },
    {
      "code": "nn",
      "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "also",
        "masculine",
        "separable"
      ],
      "word": "besteven"
    },
    {
      "code": "nn",
      "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "bestevenn"
    },
    {
      "code": "nn",
      "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "besteveninne"
    },
    {
      "code": "nn",
      "lang": "Norwegian Nynorsk",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "bestevenninne"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "przyjaciel"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "przyjaciółka"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "melhor amigo"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine",
        "plural"
      ],
      "word": "melhores amigos"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "melhor amiga"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine",
        "plural"
      ],
      "word": "melhores amigas"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "cel mai bun prieten"
    },
    {
      "code": "ro",
      "lang": "Romanian",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "cea mai bună prietenă"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "prijátelʹ",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "прия́тель"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "prijátelʹnica",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "прия́тельница"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "mejor amigo"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "mejor amiga"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "bästa vän"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "bäste vän"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "common-gender"
      ],
      "word": "bästis"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "matalik na kaibigan"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "beshie"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "bes"
    },
    {
      "code": "ta",
      "lang": "Tamil",
      "roman": "neruṅkiya naṇpaṉ",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "நெருங்கிய நண்பன்"
    },
    {
      "code": "ta",
      "lang": "Tamil",
      "roman": "ciṟanta naṇpaṉ",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "சிறந்த நண்பன்"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "word": "kanka"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "roman": "najkráščyj druh",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "найкра́щий друг"
    },
    {
      "code": "cy",
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "sense": "an especially close and trusted friend",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "ffrind pennaf"
    }
  ],
  "word": "best friend"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-05-05 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-05-02 using wiktextract (f4fd8c9 and c9440ce). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.