17 Signs Your Friend Has Feelings For You

You have probably heard that friendship is generally the first step toward a relationship. If you frequently ask yourself “Are we more than friends?” you are in the right place.

Being able to identify the signs your friend has feelings for you is important, as it helps avoid potential misunderstandings that could affect your friendship. By being aware of how your friend might feel, you can better handle the situation and avoid awkwardness. Recognizing these cues will allow you to manage your emotions with clarity, ensuring you maintain a strong bond, whether it turns into a romantic relationship or stays as a valued friendship. In this article, we have explored a few telltale signs your friend has feelings for you and how to deal with such a situation. Keep reading to learn more.

Top 17 Signs That Your Friend Has Feelings For You

If you can’t tell the signs he likes you more than a friend, you just might have to pay attention a little more. Learn more about the major signs your friend likes you and get all the insights you need below! Keep scrolling.

1. They Take The Time Out For You

Okay, we completely agree that making plans together is something you do even with your casual friends. But if they like you, they will help you out with things that most of your other friends do not want to do. They will prioritize you even when it is inconvenient for them. This is perhaps one of the best ways to figure out whether they like you.

For instance, if you have to finish a project at work, they may volunteer to help you even if it means giving up on their weekend plan. Or if you are going through a personal loss, they may try to console and comfort you by listening to you, preparing a meal for you, or staying late to be with you when you are grieving, even if they have commitments for the next day.

Interestingly, even research published in the Social Psychological and Personality Science journal, found that prioritizing someone in a friendship can be indicative of romantic interest. The findings also suggest that two-thirds of the research participants stated that their most recent romantic relationship commenced as friendship (1).

However, keep in mind that people who have been friends for a long time also give each other a lot of time and prioritize each other’s needs. But, if you see them taking out time, especially for you and exhibiting some of the other signs listed below, there is a good chance that they like you.

2. They Always Want To Impress You

Figure out how much attention they are trying to gain from you. Is your friend going out of their way to do things only you like? Maybe they want to make you laugh with their jokes or play songs that you like – it can be anything. Even something as simple as dressing up well around you could be a sign that they are interested in you romantically. A study reveals that individuals who are romantically invested, indulge in behavior to attract the attention of the person they desire. The research also states that such individuals have increased sensitivity to their potential partner’s needs and desires (2).

3. They Feel Protective Towards You

If you are wondering how to tell if your friend likes you, observe their body language and how they act around you. They will always keep watching out for you while in crowded places. They will keep an eye out for how others treat you. They also watch out for how you treat yourself.

For instance, if they see you working late nights at the office, they may encourage you to take a break, go for a walk, or treat yourself to good food to reward yourself and protect your well-being. All in all, they start taking your well-being as a responsibility.

4. They Spend A Lot Of One-on-One Time With You

Most gangs and buddies hang out in packs. I mean, F.R.I.E.N.D.S taught us that. But there is always a Chandler and Monica wanting to kindle things with each other secretly. A friend who likes spending time together will try to make plans to hang out only with you. For example, they may invite you to go for a long walk post-dinner, offer to drop you home after you both are done hanging out with your friends or pick up a coffee from your favorite cafe just to come to your place and spend time with you. While some people generally like one-on-one connections, when a friend starts to make more effort to be with you alone, it may just be because they like you romantically. They may be thinking of different ways to form a deep connection with you.

5. They Flirt Quite A Bit

Flirting is the clearest sign of them all. However, this is different from the friends who casually flirt with you after downing a few drinks. In such a situation, they are attracted to you, but it does not mean anything more than that. We are talking about the friends who flirt with you regularly and persistently. For instance, they might complement your appearance by saying, “You look great, this dress really suits you” or say “You are so clumsy, let me grab your hand as we cross the road.”

A study has highlighted that physical, sincere, and playful styles of flirting are seen to bring greater success in dating. These flirting styles are reported to convey their romantic interest effectively and thus can influence the relationship progression (3 ).

Quick Tip

Pay attention to their tone of voice and the way they hold eye contact. Their voice and their gaze will be deeper around you than it is with others. You can be sure that it is not casual flirting.

6. They Try To Get Intimate With You

We don’t mean that they force themselves on you. Chaste physical touch occurs a lot more often. For example, they may touch your hand, arm, or hair frequently while talking to you. Even these small signs can hint at their feelings, so keep looking for them.

7. They Are Always There To Support You

Being supportive of all your goals and choices is a sign of any good friend. But when a friend is romantically interested in you, they will go out of their way to do so. Not only will they congratulate you on your promotion, but they may also throw a party in your honor. They may help you with a work problem, drive you to the airport, or accompany you to that doctor’s appointment that you have been dreading for a while.

8. They Always Listen To You

Most people want to lend an ear to the people they love. If your friend is romantically interested in you, they will start talking to you a lot more. They always will be there to hear you out and will want to solve all your problems. With them, you will always feel heard. They won’t just sit there and nod their head but actually pay attention to all that you say. For example, if you mention that you are stressed about an upcoming exam at college, they might follow up with you late, asking you “How did the exam go?”. Alternatively, if they see you are noticeably upset, they might just walk up to you and say “What’s bothering you?”, or “I am here to listen to you and help you”.

9. They Share A Lot More Than Usual

If your friend is romantically interested in you, they will start to share a lot more stuff than they do in general. In fact, they will do this because they trust you with their feelings and deepest secrets and because they want to build a deeper connection with you. For instance, they might open up to you about their family dynamics, such as their parents not getting along, or discuss with you their emotional pain like their battle with depression. It can signify that they trust you enough to be vulnerable before you. This could also exhibit their desire to foster emotional intimacy between you two.

10. They Take Quite A Lot Of Interest In Your Love Life

Showing interest in your life is something friends do to ensure your day-to-day well-being. But any friend who is romantically interested in you will want to start things up with you. They will start showing a lot more interest in your love life. They would start asking personal questions and want to ensure that you weigh all your options correctly and make the right decision for yourself. They may diss your crush and hint that you should give them a chance instead. For example, they can say they get a negative vibe from your crush and they think you deserve to be with someone better. They might also indirectly convey their feelings for you by declaring something like, “If you and I were dating, I would have never made you cry on this silly issue.” They would often do this to try to influence your relationship choices.

Quick Tip

They will show you that they are better than your past relationships through actions. They will remember things about your past relationships that upset you or made you happy and act accordingly around you.

11. People Notice The Kind Of Attention They Give You

If a friend gets romantically interested in you, your other friends will be able to see this interest. They will also be able to see that you are getting special attention from this specific friend, hinting at their interest in you. Basically, it will become obvious to the people around you that this person likes you, and they will start to point it out as well and start some friendly teasing too. Like, your friends might crack jokes when they see you entering a party together. They may also try to point out how your friend treats you differently than others. For instance, your friend might just bring coffee for you and nobody else. So, your friends may tease them by saying, “What is the reason behind this special treatment, hmm?” This signifies how your friends can pick up on subtle cues and make his feelings more obvious.

12. Their Phone Is A Stranger When You Are Around

This is quite easy to notice, especially with a friend who is addicted to their phone. Your friend who was always interested in social media now keeps their phone away when having one-on-one conversations with you. In fact, another common hint is they start texting when are you both are sitting with a group of people.

13. They Connect To You A Lot More Frequently

Your weekly catch-up sessions may become bi-weekly, perhaps even daily. When somebody likes you, they will want to be connected to you and try to reach out to you a lot more frequently. They will find little excuses to talk to you and show you that you have somebody to fall back on. For example, they might just start texting you good morning and good night every day. They might also make impromptu plans to meet you. Like they ask you out by saying, “Would you like to come to this cafe, it’s in your area?” or “I am planning to buy some outfits, would you like to come along?” These actions can signify that they are making efforts to stay connected to you.

14. They Try To Take An Interest In Your Friends And Family

When a friend is romantically interested in you, they will want to know about all the important aspects of your life. They will ask you about your niece and maybe even make plans to chill with your parents! Whatever the case maybe, they will definitely want to be there for you a lot more often.

15. They Surprise You As Much As They Can

There is a romantic notion that surprises make people happy. When they are interested in you, they will want to surprise you quite often. They may get your favorite food delivered to you or take you out to a restaurant you like without telling you.

16. They Try To Make You Jealous

If a friend has romantic feelings for you, they may try to make you jealous to get your attention or induce a reaction of some sort. It may also be because they want to see whether you too are romantically inclined towards them and may reciprocate the same feelings. They may try to flirt with others in front of you or hang out more with other friends to seek your attention. However, this behavior can also lead to miscommunication, misunderstanding, or even turn into a toxic friendship. It can make you feel insecure about the friendship. All in all, this jealousy-inducing behavior can be difficult to deal with and prove emotionally taxing.

17. Communication Patterns

When they start feeling for you, you should see a noticeable change in how often they communicate with you. If they start texting or calling more often than usual, or if they are the ones initiating most conversations, it could mean they want to connect with you on a deeper level. This increase in communication might indicate that they enjoy your company more than just as a friend and are interested in something more.

When you notice a friend exhibiting signs that they might have feelings for you, it’s important to handle the situation with care and consideration. Scroll down to learn what to do once you know your friend likes you.

How To Respond When You Notice These Signs

Here are some tips on approaching your friend once you notice the signs that they like you romantically while keeping your friendship intact.

• Take time to understand your own feelings before reacting. Knowing how you feel will guide your next steps.
• Have an open conversation when you’re ready. Set a time to sit together so that both of you can clarify any misunderstandings.
• Be gentle and respectful of their emotions, even if you don’t share the same feelings.
• Set boundaries if needed, especially if you value the friendship and don’t want things to change.
• Be patient. Transitioning from friendship to something more, or addressing feelings, takes time and sensitivity.

Infographic: What To Do When Your Friend Has Feelings For You

It is lovely to develop feelings for someone. But things may be different when it is a friend as it may put your friendship at stake. Undoubtedly, it is a tricky situation and demands utmost care and attention. To help you handle it, we have some tips in the infographic below that you must follow. Scroll down to find them.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Can friends become lovers?

Yes, friends can become lovers. You can be attracted to your friend and be in a romantic relationship if both have the same feelings.

What is more than friends but not dating?

The phase where you are more than friends with each other but not dating is called situationship.

How do you make a friend attracted to you?

Spending time with your friend, listening to them, flirting, complimenting their personality and looks, being there for your friend, etc., may make a friend attracted to you.

Can you suddenly develop feelings for a friend?

Yes, it is possible to suddenly develop feelings for a friend even though you have known them for a long time. Getting to know them more and spending time with them may make a deeper connection.

How can I keep our friendship if we don’t pursue a romantic relationship?

YClear communication is important. Be honest about your feelings and respect each other’s boundaries to ensure that the friendship stays strong and comfortable for both of you. If it gets too difficult initially, take some time off after ‘the talk’ and then recuperate.

Are you wondering if someone likes you more than just a friend? Then check out this video to learn 6 signs that could mean they do!

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Joseph MooreCertified Relationship And Life Coach

Joseph Moore is an ace relationship coach and public speaker who started coaching in 2015. Although Joseph is a trained electrical engineer from the University of Chester, he found passion in helping people get it right with their love life.

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Sneha has a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, a professional Relationship Coach diploma, and over four years of experience in writing. She writes about relationships and lifestyle.Sneha began her career as an instructional designer, shifted to freelance technical and research writing, and self-published a novella on the theme of adolescent mental health.

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Gazala Ansari is a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience. She writes on relationships, makeup, and lifestyle and has bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature from the Central University of Jharkhand.

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