just a friend
idiom
: a friend with whom one is not in a romantic relationship when one might possibly be
Sara and Joe say they are just friends.
Examples of just a friend in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
After learning in the first season that his (living but now deceased) wife cheated on him with his best friend, Pete’s attempts to get Alberta to see him as more than just a friend have fallen flat — at least for now.
—
Max Gao, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024
Brittney, who was just a friend at the time of the accident, was a constant support system for him.
—Susan Young, Peoplemag, 22 Dec. 2023
And Douglass was no longer just a friend of the family.
—Nora Mathison, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2023
It’s implied that most of these subjects regarded Vogt as just a friend with a hobby, on the fringes at family-and-friends gatherings.
—Vulture, 27 May 2023
It’s implied that most of these subjects regarded Vogt as just a friend with a hobby, on the fringes at family-and-friends gatherings.
—Vulture, 27 May 2023
Jess reaffirms that Justin is just a friend and kisses Diego.
—Martha Sorren, refinery29.com, 8 June 2020
So: Enjoy the company of this lovely friend, who is just a friend, and keep your heart, mind and calendar open just for you, including for the possibility of something/someone different.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2020
My dilemma is that one of our friends has become more than just a friend.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 17 Nov. 2022
Max Gao, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2024
Brittney, who was just a friend at the time of the accident, was a constant support system for him.
—Susan Young, Peoplemag, 22 Dec. 2023
And Douglass was no longer just a friend of the family.
—Nora Mathison, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2023
It’s implied that most of these subjects regarded Vogt as just a friend with a hobby, on the fringes at family-and-friends gatherings.
—Vulture, 27 May 2023
It’s implied that most of these subjects regarded Vogt as just a friend with a hobby, on the fringes at family-and-friends gatherings.
—Vulture, 27 May 2023
Jess reaffirms that Justin is just a friend and kisses Diego.
—Martha Sorren, refinery29.com, 8 June 2020
So: Enjoy the company of this lovely friend, who is just a friend, and keep your heart, mind and calendar open just for you, including for the possibility of something/someone different.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2020
My dilemma is that one of our friends has become more than just a friend.
—Abigail Van Buren, oregonlive, 17 Nov. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'just a friend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near just a friend
Cite this Entry
“Just a friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just%20a%20friend. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share