Who is a friend or a best friend? What differentiates an ordinary friend from a best friend and who should be considered a friend vs a best friend?
The common definition of the term “friend” according to the Oxford English Dictionary is a person other than a family member. A friend is someone who we have a good relationship with such as a lover, a spouse, or someone whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.
Friends come in all sizes and shapes. Irrespective of our differences and social background, we can make friends with people from a different ethnicity, religion, or race.
A friend is someone you can confide in and share the best moments with. Best friends are often those who grew up together in the same neighbourhood or attended the same school.
We can all agree that those we see as friends and the closest to us from the early days are those we call best friends.
While we will be looking at the definition of “friend”, we will also look at what it means to be someone’s friend or best friend.
What Is a Friend?
The term “friend” is a person other than a family member like a spouse or lover whose company one enjoy and towards whom one feels affection. A friend is someone who we can confide in, a person that we have a good relationship with, irrespective of their ethnicity, race, or religion.
A friend is an associate we can rely on when we need assistance. A friend is a boyfriend or a girlfriend, someone with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.
As a transitive verb, the term “friend’ means to act as a friend to or to befriend or to be friendly to.
We value the relationship we share with people we call friends. Of course, friends do quarrel over certain issue but in the end, they will reconcile forgetting whatever happened.
A friend is a confidant, someone you can rely on for advice or assistance.
At first, people made friends by having physical contact with others. With the help of technology and social media, one can easily meet new friends on the internet.
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Etymology
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term “friend” is from Middle English ‘frend’ from Old English ‘fréond’- akin to Old High German ‘friunt’ which means friend.
Who Is a Best Friend?
A best friend is someone who you likely grew up with or your closest pal from elementary school. Best friends are those who we hold dear to our hearts.
A best friend is closer to us than people we call friends. Best friends are special friends who are more like a family to us. The relationship with best friends is stronger compared to those that are just friends to us.
A best friend is someone you can confide in. Best friends are more like extended family members.
While most people would prefer not to have someone they call “a best friend”, there are those who wouldn’t do almost anything without their best friend.
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Friend vs Best Friend: Key Differences between Friend vs Best Friends
The term “friend” is a person other than a family member like a spouse or lover whose company one enjoy and towards whom one feels affection. A friend is someone who we can confide in, someone that we have a good relationship with, irrespective of their ethnicity, race, or religion.
A best friend is closer to us than people we call friends. Best friends are special friends who are more like a family to us. The relationship with best friends is stronger compared to those that are just friends to us.
A friend is a confidant, someone we have a good relationship with and enjoy each moment we spend socializing.
A friend is an associate we can rely on when we need assistance. A friend is a boyfriend or a girlfriend, someone with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.
A best friend on the other hand is someone who you share a deeper emotional bond with. Best friends are more like an extended family member you grew up with.
Someone who is a best friend should be able to understand the character of their friend. They should be able to know what their best friend likes and dislikes, their hobbies, favourite food, music, sport and colour.
Those we call friends can be part of a social circle that shares experiences. A best friend is someone who is part of your inner circle, someone with a deeper understanding and offer support when you need it.
Friends are people you socialize with, while best friends are close confidants that you have known for years. Friends and best friends are your companions you spend good time with.
Friend vs Best Friend: Things We Do with Friends
Being a friend or a best friend with someone involves doing a lot of things.
Conversations
One of the main reasons for making friends is to have someone to share our experiences and thoughts with. Having a conversation is important in any relationship.
Through conversations, ideas are shared on important life issues and let’s not the gossip and other stuff friends talk about.
Dealing with Breakups
Ending a relationship can be heartbroken and hard to handle. In times like this, we can rely on a friend or best friend to help us get through the difficult experience.
A few comforting words may be all that is needed to push through a break-up.
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Keeping Secrets
A friend or a best friend is someone you can confide in. Our little secrets are safe with our real friends and best friends.
Friend vs Best Friend: Comparison Chart
| Friend | Best friend | |
| Emotional bond | Positive but not deep compared to a best friend | Deep, intimate, and understanding |
| Sharing of personal matters | Limited sharing | Extensive sharing of personal thoughts and feelings |
| Significance | Varied levels of closeness | Unique and irreplaceable role |
| Nature of interaction | Regular, sometimes superficial | Frequent, intimate, and personal |
Friend vs Best Friend: Examples of Sentences with the term “Friend”
Let’s look at a few examples of sentences with the term “friend”.
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Simple Sentences with Friend
- Clark has been my friend since fifth grade.
- My friend recently got an admission to study law at the university.
- We are going on a road trip with friends from the office.
- I’m going to the game with one of my friends from high school
- We used to be friends before she left to go look for a new job downtown.
Friend vs Best Friend: Simple Sentences with “Best Friend”
- They were best friends from high school, so I’m not surprised they are still together.
- Laura was almost in tears when she saw her best friend in a wedding dress.
- He gave an emotional farewell at his best friend’s funeral.
- They are best friends who support different sports teams.
- Shay went to her best friend’s birthday party.
Conclusion
Friends and best friends are confidants we enjoy spending time with.
Best friends are special friends who are more like a family to us. The relationship with best friends is stronger compared to those that are just friends to us.
A friend is a confidant, someone we have a good relationship with and enjoy each moment we spend socializing.