friendly

The word “friendly” means kind, warm, and easy to get along with. In plain terms, warm and welcoming in manner, or, as a noun, a casual match that doesn't affect rankings.

“Friendly” is pronounced FREHND-lee (/ˈfɹɛnd.li/ in IPA).

Here is “friendly” used in a sentence: “The waiter was friendly and helped us pick a great meal.”

Words with a similar meaning to “friendly” include affectionate, amiable, bonhomous, amicable, chummy and companionable.

The opposite of “friendly” — its antonyms — are hostile, unfriendly, non-friendly, nonfriendly and brusque.

Depending on how it is used, “friendly” can be an adjective and a noun.

The word “friendly” comes from Old English. From Old English freondlic, formed from friend plus the adjective suffix -ly.

“Friendly” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

Friendly describes a warm, sociable manner, being easy to talk to and pleasant company. Kind describes generous, caring actions that help or spare others. You can be friendly on the surface without being deeply kind, and quietly kind without being especially outgoing. Friendly is about warmth; kind is about goodwill in action.

The direct opposite is 'unfriendly', meaning cold or unwelcoming in manner. Stronger opposites include 'hostile', 'aloof', and 'standoffish', which suggest active dislike or distance. Where friendly invites people in and puts them at ease, its opposites push people away or keep them at arm's length.

Yes, friendly is almost always positive, describing someone kind, warm, and easy to get along with. It is a compliment in everyday and professional settings alike. The only mild exception is a phrase like 'a bit too friendly', where tone can hint at over-familiarity, but the word itself stays favourable.