best friend

noun

plural best friends

1

: a person's closest and dearest friend

She's my best friend.

We have been best friends since high school.

2

: a person's most desirable or valuable possession or resource

Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but gold is more affordable.

—William Giese

Lycra-cotton leggings and tunic tops are the pregnant woman's best friend, sartorially speaking.

—Anne Reeks

When cops bang on the door, the toilet is a drug dealer's best friend.

—Frederick Kaufman

Examples of best friend in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tottenham being so bad has been funny — one of my best friends is a Spurs fan, so winning both derbies so easily has been a highlight. —Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 1 May 2026

Meier ultimately signed up for Ladies of London with her best friend from the University of Florida, architect Dara Huang, and the first two episodes depict Huang’s shocking rise and fall. —Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026

Platonic best friends Juniper and Mo could be perfectly happy tending to their cottage, ignoring the call for adventure that has Mo restless every winter and Juniper worried about losing his handsome soulmate roommate. —Literary Hub, 1 May 2026

Tim’s best friend in high school, Chris, was tragically killed in service. —Charleen Richey, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing best friend

• man's best friend

Rhymes for best friend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend