friendly

Pluralfriendlies

1. 1
   kind to peopleadjective

   Warm, approachable, and easy to get along with by nature.

   She has a friendly manner that puts strangers at ease.

   The café owner was so friendly that we came back the next day.

   UsageAn adjective despite its -ly: smile in a friendly way (not incorrect: smile friendly); friendlier and more friendly are both fine.

   Similarwarm, amiable, approachable, affable, genial

   Oppositeunfriendly, cold, aloof

2. 2
   good foradjectivein compounds

   Compatible with, or not damaging to, a particular thing, usually named by a noun joined in front of it.

   The new packaging is friendly to marine life and breaks down at sea.

   Designers prioritized a user-friendly interface for older customers.

   UsageUsually joined with a hyphen, even after a verb: user-friendly design, streets that aren't bike-friendly; also friendly to something.

   Similarsafe, compatible

   Oppositeharmful, damaging

   Note

   A combining form that attaches to almost any noun: bike-friendly streets, soil-friendly fertilizers, dolphin-friendly tuna, a heart-friendly menu. The first element names what is spared or accommodated, not who is being kind.

3. 3
   adjective

   Inviting and welcoming in appearance or feel, suggesting friendliness.

   The inn's friendly glow drew travelers in from the cold.

   The cafe's soft lights and worn armchairs give it a friendly feel that draws people in.

   Similarwelcoming, inviting, warm

   Oppositecold, forbidding, unwelcoming

4. 4
   no ill willadjective

   Showing no hostility or wish to harm the other party.

   The negotiations remained friendly despite deep disagreements over price.

   Relations between the rival firms stayed friendly throughout the merger.

   Similaramicable, cordial, civil, peaceful

   Oppositehostile, acrimonious, unfriendly

5. 5
   nouncountable

   A match played for practice or enjoyment rather than as part of a league or competition.

   The club arranged a friendly against a touring side to sharpen their fitness.

   Coaches often field younger players in a friendly to assess their potential.

   UsageTeams play a friendly against another side; the plural is friendlies.

   Note

   The adjective turned into a noun for a match played outside league or cup competition. The BBC in 2017 describes Gareth Southgate gathering England's squad "for friendlies against the Netherlands in Amsterdam and at home to Italy." Low stakes do not mean no purpose: these are the games where lessons are stored up before the ones that count.

6. 6
   get along withadjective

   Having a warm, pleasant relationship with someone, without necessarily being close friends.

   I'm friendly with a few of the other parents, though we're not really close.

   Over the years he grew friendly with the family who ran the corner store.

   UsageUsually be friendly with someone, meaning on good terms; friendly to someone more often means kind toward them.

   Similarcordial

7. 7
   adjective

   Belonging to or associated with one's own side in a conflict or contest, rather than the opposing side.

   The convoy crossed into friendly territory before nightfall.

   Several soldiers were wounded by friendly fire in the chaos of the night raid.

   UsageCommon in military language, including friendly fire, friendly territory, friendly forces, and friendly aircraft.

   Similarallied

   Oppositehostile

   Note

   Military English uses the word for one's own or allied side: friendly fire, friendly territory, friendly forces. The Journal of the Military Service Institution in 1910 already warns of troops "shot to pieces by friendly fire." Do not confuse it with the "no hostility" meaning: a friendly power is one on good terms with you, perhaps an ally, while friendly forces are those fighting on your side.

8. 8
   adjective

   Favorable to someone's interests; helping things turn out well.

   A friendly current carried the swimmers back to the beach.

   The lawyers filed the case in a court known to be friendly to patent holders, hoping for a quick win.

   Similarfavorable, helpful

   Oppositeadverse, unfavorable, hostile

   Note

   This sense describes people, institutions, or circumstances that favor someone's interests. With natural forces or surroundings, it can suggest personification: a breeze or stretch of ground seems to help someone. In Addison's Cato (1713), a hunter lies down at nightfall on "the first friendly Bank." Here friendly means favorable or helpful, as if the world itself had taken one's side.

9. 9
   adverb

   In a manner that is warm and kind, as a friend would behave.

   Similarwarmly, kindly, amicably

   Oppositecoldly

   Note

   The true adverb comes from a separate Old English form, frēondlīċe, whose ending wore away until it matched the adjective. Older writers put it right beside the verb. Marlowe's Tamburlaine has "looke we friendly on them," and Thomas Browne in 1646 hopes colleagues "will friendly accept." Today "in a friendly way" usually does this work.

Showing meanings only. Show all 11