pal

1 of 2

noun

: a close friend
palship noun

pal

2 of 2

verb

palled; palling

intransitive verb

: to be or become pals : associate as pals
they've palled around for years

Examples of pal in a Sentence

Noun We've been pals since we were kids. Come on—be a pal and lend me the money. Verb they began to pal around after discovering that they both had kids on the same soccer team
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Indeed, some followers figured Moreland’s initial blow might’ve been a jibe among pals, before Bryan’s response made clear that was not the case. Chris Willman, Variety, 10 May 2025 Doom: The Dark Ages Trailer Check out the latest Doom: The Dark Ages gameplay below, showcasing your massive new Mecha Dragon pal. Griff Griffin, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025 The hatchet buried, the ceremony started with Levi walking his pal down the aisle. Charlie Mason, TVLine, 8 May 2025 Basquiat was depicted in his work, as were other pals like Keith Haring and RuPaul. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 8 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for pal

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Romani phral, phal brother, friend, from Sanskrit bhrātṛ brother; akin to Old English brōthor brother

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1886, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pal was in 1875

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pal. Accessed 15 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

pal

1 of 2 noun
: a close friend

pal

2 of 2 verb
palled; palling
: to be or become pals

Legal Definition

PAL

abbreviation
passive activity loss

More from Merriam-Webster on pal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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