buddy

¹

[buhd-ee]

noun

plural

buddies 

1. comrade or chum (often used as a term of address).

2. bud.

verb (used without object)

buddied, buddying 

1. to be a companion; be friendly or on intimate terms.

verb phrase

1. buddy up to,  to become friendly with or curry the favor of.

   He was buddying up to the political bosses.

2. buddy up

   1. to become friendly; be on friendly or intimate terms.

   2. to work closely together.

      to buddy up with a student from another high school.

Buddy

²

[buhd-ee]

noun

1. a male given name.

buddy

/ ˈbʌdɪ /

noun

1. Also called (as a term of address): bud. an informal word for friend

2. a volunteer who visits and gives help and support to a person suffering from AIDS

3. a volunteer who gives help and support to a person who has become disabled but is returning to work

verb

1. (intr) to act as a buddy to a person suffering from AIDS

Word History and Origins

Origin of buddy¹

1840–50, perhaps reduced form of brother

Word History and Origins

Origin of buddy¹

C19: probably a baby-talk variant (US) of _brother

Example Sentences

Stremberg, then 24, and his buddy were going to hitch a ride on a log truck bound for San Francisco, catch a flight to Europe, and see the world.

From Los Angeles Times

As Timothy, an old acting school buddy of the Clooney-esque Kelly, Crudup brings a mercurial intensity to a pivotal early scene that begins with warmth and ends in rage.

From Los Angeles Times

“I have a bunch of buddies I’ve been playing with since I was little,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

He thought he and Putin were buddies too!

From Salon

“Release it all! Absolutely! You play, you pay, buddy.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• associate 
• chum 
• co-worker 
• companion 
• comrade 
• confidant 
• crony 
• mate 
• peer 

When To Use

What does buddy mean?

Buddy is most commonly used as an informal word for a friend.Buddy is often used as a form of address (as in Hey, buddy, I haven’t seen you in a while!) or a term of endearment (an affectionate way of referring to someone). It is sometimes shortened to bud. Buddy is primarily used in the United States.Example: We don’t get together as much as we used to, but whenever I hang out with my buddies from college it’s still like old times.