WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
friend•ly /ˈfrɛndli/USA pronunciation
adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv., n., pl. -lies.
adj.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026adj.
- characteristic of or appropriate to a friend:a friendly greeting.
- kind;
helpful:a friendly passerby. - sympathetic:nations who are friendly to our cause.
- amicable;
neighborly:a friendly game of softball. - Informal Terms(used after a noun) made easy or pleasant to use, operate, understand, or experience:visitor-friendly museums (= museums that are arranged to be easy or pleasant for visitors to use); a user-friendly computer (= a computer that is easy for the user to operate).
n. [countable]
- a person or thing who is friendly.
friend•ly
(frend′lē),USA pronunciation adj., -li•er, -li•est, adv., n., pl. -lies.
adj.
adv.
n.
friend′li•ness, n.
adj.
- characteristic of or befitting a friend;
showing friendship:a friendly greeting. - like a friend;
kind;
helpful:a little friendly advice. - favorably disposed;
inclined to approve, help, or support:a friendly bank. - not hostile or at variance;
amicable:a friendly warship; friendly natives. - Computinguser-friendly.
adv.
- Also, friend′li•ly. in a friendly manner;
like a friend.
n.
- a person who is in sympathetic relationship to oneself or one's side;
one who shows no hostility.
- Middle English frendly, Old English frēondlīc. See friend, -ly bef. 900
- 1. companionable, neighborly. 2. kindly, amiable, cordial, genial, affectionate, kind-hearted. 3. benevolent, well-disposed, helpful, favorable; advantageous, propitious.
- 3. antagonistic.
'friendliness' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
affable
- amicable
- bonhomie
- fawn
- smile
- sociable
- stock in trade
- thaw
- unapproachable
- wink
- affection
- aura
- backslapping
- civil
- cordiality
- fellowship
- Gemütlichkeit
- goodwill
- hospitality
- hostility
- laugh
- love
- reconcile