What is a Best Friend? 15 Signs You’ll Never Find Someone Better

Best friends are few and far between. But what is a best friend? Here’s how to know your buddy is the best you’ll have and no one can compare.

We go through life making a lot of friends. You’ll have those you met when you were just a toddler, others you formed friendships with in high school, and you even meet people as adults who can weasel their way into your inner circle. But what is a best friend?

What makes one of those friends stand out above the rest? Surely they’re all great because if they weren’t, you wouldn’t have them in your life. So I’m sure you’re trying to figure out what makes one of them the best? It’s hard to tell, but there are unique signs for sure.

High-quality friends is better than high quantity

It’s perfectly fine if you’re the type of person to have a lot of friends. However, you do want to make sure you’re putting quality above quantity. Sure, it helps to know you’ll always have someone there simply because there’s so many, but it’s better to know a single person will be there no matter what.

Therefore, choosing to keep only the best people around is really important. Not only will it help keep you sane and happy, but we’re also greatly affected by the company we keep. Having toxic friends around or having a lot of friends, but no good ones, can have horrible effects on your life. [Read: 10 of the biggest signs of a toxic friend to look out for]

What is a best friend?

You may want to know the signs of a best friend so you can recognize when someone is going above and beyond to be there for you. These are the qualities all best friends tend to have. Keep an eye out and be aware of who’s doing the most.

#1 They know you inside and out. A true best friend will know just about everything about you. Why? Because you told them. You don’t have to hold anything back and what makes them truly the best is their ability to remember that information. They know what’s important and they made an effort to remember it. [Read: 35 questions to prove if your friends know you or not]

#2 You don’t have to say anything for them to know you’re upset. They can just tell by your demeanor. They’re like dogs in that way. They can sense when something is off just by the way your face looks. Only a best friend who knows you really well can tell something’s wrong even when you’re trying to hide it.

#3 You never have to hide how you’re feeling. This is the ultimate truth. Whenever you’re upset, feeling insecure, or are even beyond angry about something – even if they caused it – you can tell them. You don’t have to hide anything from them because you know they won’t judge you no matter what.

#4 They’re there no matter the time or circumstance. It can be two in the morning and they’re there if you need them to be. A true best friend is selfless when it comes to your needs, so long as it’s mutual, of course.

They’ll be there to pick you up when you’re down or even to celebrate the great things in life. Bottom line: they make an effort to be around for all the important stuff. [Read: All the signs of a great friend and BFF]

#5 They never ask for anything in return. As much as being a great friend should be a mutual thing, your bestie will never ask for stuff in return. They don’t do what they do because they’ll get something back. They do it because they want to and they love you.

#6 You always have a great time. Best friends are always a hoot. No matter what you do, you’re always having fun. Whether it’s sitting on the couch, sending each other memes or going on rides at an amusement park, it’s all a great time and you never feel like time is wasted.

#7 Their family feels like yours. This really says a lot about your friendship. If their family feels like your own just because of how close you are, they’re definitely your best friend. Pay attention to how their family treats you and how you feel about them and you’ll know who’s the best. [Read: 15 signs of a one-sided friendship you need to get out of]

#8 Your enemies are their enemies and vice versa. Loyalty is a very powerful, and important, thing. Even if they don’t know someone, they’ll hate them if you do. It’s about being supportive and sticking to those you trust. If you hate that person and your friend does too, without even a reason, they’re the best.

#9 They’re supportive of everything you want to do. No matter what whacky thing you want to try next, they’re supportive of it. It doesn’t matter what it is, so long as it makes you happy. Because that’s ultimately what a best friend wants – you to be happy. [Read: 10 signs your friend is truly supportive of all your goals]

#10 They’re blunt and honest when they need to be. If they’re your best friend, they will tell you when you’re being annoying and needy. They’ll also tell you when a dress looks awful on you or when you need to leave your boyfriend alone and stop being paranoid. They don’t mind telling you stuff that might hurt, as long as it’s good for you.

#11 There are very few boundaries, if any. No topic is really off-limits. No matter how inappropriate or touchy it may be, you can always talk about it. You both respect each other’s opinions enough to not let anything ruin your friendship.

#12 You have inside jokes for days. You know each other so well and have been friends for so long that inside jokes just pile up. When you’re at the point of just looking at an empty soda bottle and you can burst out laughing, you know it’s real. You both thought the same thing in that moment and it was about a really funny joke made a long time ago. [Read: How to get your best friend back when you lost them]

#13 You basically have to talk every day. It’s not that you do, but you feel weird if you don’t talk to them. You feel like your day is just off and not normal if you don’t spend some time chatting with your best friend. That’s how you know they’re the best.

#14 They give the best advice. It’s not just like they whip out the same old advice you hear everywhere. No. They give you the real advice that comes from them and their experiences. They really make an effort to understand your situation and help you based on what they know about you, too. It’s the good stuff. [Read: 23 must-know relationship advice for women]

#15 They feel more like family than friend. This is the gist of it. If your friend feels more like a family member than just a friend, they’re the best. You don’t get to choose your own family, except for your best friend.

[Read: Signs of bad friends and when you need to get rid of them]

So what is a best friend, you ask? They’re everything listed above and so much more. A true best friend is there through anything and will always have your back.