To befriend someone means to make friends with them or to act as their friend, especially when they might need one. When you befriend a new student who seems lonely at lunch, you're choosing to reach out, include them, and help them feel welcome.

Befriending someone often involves a deliberate choice to be kind and supportive. A teacher might befriend a shy student by encouraging them to join activities. An older sibling might befriend a younger one by inviting them to play. Sometimes people befriend stray animals by caring for them and earning their trust over time.

The word suggests something more active than just happening to become friends naturally. When you befriend someone, you're making an effort to connect with them. Maybe you notice someone sitting alone at recess and decide to befriend them by asking if they want to play. That choice to reach out, to be the one who makes the first move toward friendship, is what befriending is all about.