Meaning & use
circle of friends
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Meanings
phrasecountable
a group of people who regularly spend time together and support each other, often sharing similar interests or values
Grammar: Countable; use 'a' or a plural: a circle of friends, two circles of friends.
Patterns
- a circle of friends
- someone's circle of friends
- have a circle of friends
- a wide/narrow circle of friends
After moving to a new city, she slowly built a circle of friends through her book club.
He has a small circle of friends he trusts completely.
My circle of friends from university still meets every month.
phrasecountable
the people someone knows socially, considered as a group that influences or supports them
Grammar: Often used with possessive adjectives: my/his/her circle of friends.
Patterns
- expand your circle of friends
- within someone's circle of friends
- a close circle of friends
She prefers to keep a close circle of friends rather than many casual acquaintances.
His circle of friends includes artists, engineers, and teachers.
Joining a sports team helped him widen his circle of friends.
Word forms
| plural | circles of friends |
|---|
Common combinations
- a wide circle of friends
- She has a wide circle of friends from all over the world.
- a close circle of friends
- He only shares personal news with a close circle of friends.
- build a circle of friends
- It takes time to build a circle of friends in a new place.
- within someone's circle of friends
- The rumor spread quickly within her circle of friends.
- expand your circle of friends
- Taking a class is a good way to expand your circle of friends.
Synonyms and how they differ
- social circle
- Very similar, but often slightly more formal and can include family and colleagues, not just friends.
- network
- Broader and often used for professional contacts; a network may include people you do not see socially.
- clique
- A small, exclusive group that may be disapproving; a circle of friends is usually neutral.
Word family
- friend noun
- A person you know well and like, who is not family.
- friendly adjective
- Behaving in a kind and pleasant way toward others.
- friendship noun
- The relationship between friends.
Commonly confused: circle of friends or circle?
circle of friends vs circle
As a noun, 'circle' usually means a round shape or a group of people with a shared interest. 'Circle of friends' specifically means your personal group of friends.
Practice
Choose the best completion: After moving to a new city, she slowly ___ a circle of friends through her yoga class.
Choose one answer.
The past tense 'built' fits the past-time sentence. 'Builded' is not standard English; 'building' would need an auxiliary like 'was building'; 'builds' is present tense and does not match 'after moving'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “circle of friends”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.