A particularly aggravating metaphorical place, that people end up in when someone they are interested in only wants to be friends. It is impossible to get over someone while in the friendzone, because, as friends, you still see them too often for them to be erased from your memory, and yet, you cannot be with them the way you want.
Person 1: Hypothetically, how would you react if I told you I like you?
Person 2: I'm sorry, I don't mean to hurt you, but I want to just be friends.
Person 1 is now in the friendzone.
by EmiLogic March 1, 2017
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When you get rejected and they you just stay as friends.

Most common people to get friendzoned:
Josh

Tom
Joe
Brent
by Poopface420blazeit March 12, 2018
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"Friend zone" describes the way most women stop seeing a male friend as dating material after a certain amount of time has passed, even though she might have begun dating him had he acted differently when they first met. -see example

-being "friendzoned" does not have to mean something negative in nature, it is simply a word to label the common situation of a male is only seen as a friend in the eyes of a female come the time he confesses his feels for her, which is completely ok, by no means does the male friend feel he is intitled to be with said female(unless they are an assholes), everyone obviously has the right to reject who they wish, but that does not mean the male has no right to feel rejected and inadequate, especially in situations where said female chooses to be with another man of which the male friend feels is not appropriate for said female, for whatever reason, such as opposing males personality(taking advantage of her and such). its mostly based on social norms and essentially stereotypes of male and female interaction. Of course this is not always the case, it is possible for a female to become "friendzoned" as the roles are simply reversed, though it is less common as guys are more in the position of asking a girl to be with him (a social norm). I personally dislike like the reality of social norms, but that does not mean they are not blatantly obvious, more so when observing rather than participating.
John meets Mary. Mary thinks "This guy seems nice. He's quite funny and reasonably good looking". John doesn't ask Mary out, but they see each other at social functions. After a while, Mary stops seeing John as a nice guy who is quite funny and reasonably good looking, and just sees him as friend. John realizes he's secretly madly in love with Mary and begins trying to hang out with her more and more. Because John loves Mary, he stops behaving reasonably and starts doing anything just to spend time with her. Eventually, he summons his courage and confesses his love for her. But Mary just feels uncomfortable and confused. She doesn't want to lose her friend and she feels pressured by his feelings for her. To be honest, John's been a little needy and pathetic lately, hanging on her every word and catering to her every whim, and that's not really very sexy. John has been friendzoned by Mary.

John had a chance when they first met but he messed it up by not doing anything about it. When he finally got his act together, the friendship that developed actively interfered with his potential of getting Mary to go on a date with him.
by kado55 August 30, 2013
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The friendzone is a pshychological place in which you put yourself when you behave like a friend with the person you like, because you don't have the courage to behave otherwise.
by sx u l December 10, 2017
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The excuse a man gives for a woman rejecting him sexually/romantically when he expected a payoff for being friendly.
"We've been friends for two years but really I want to be your boyfriend"
"Oh...well....I don't feel that way about you"
"You've put me in the friendzone? Thanks for wasting my time"
by wuzat? February 3, 2012
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A mythical place were misogynists go to when a woman doesn't want their penis.
"I didn't expect her to have sex with me, so she should have had sex with me. I'm totally in the friendzone!"
by RMLS June 30, 2013
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The "friendzone" is the position of a person who removed from eligibility for romantic or sexual consideration due to an existing friendship with the object of their desire.

The term applies to a range of situations: On the innocent end of the spectrum, awkwardness, timing, or fear of losing the friendship may keep a person in the friendzone.

There those who step forwards to confess, to be rejected and told remaining friends is more desirable. They must either enter the friendzone, or end all contact. Or, the focus of the desire may be aware of the romantic interest, and purposefully ignore, discourage, and downplay it to prevent the friendship from changing.

At the pernicious end, either person in the dynamic may use the friendzone to take advantage. A person with sexual interest may try to use the friendzone to gain intimate access under the guise of false friendship. Or the recipient of affection may purposefully encourage the feelings in order to get benefits, like attention, favors, or money (aka "simping")

It is challenging to shift a person's view from platonic to romantic, so becoming "trapped in the friendzone" is seen as a difficult fate to change and few successfully "escape the friendzone" to enter a relationship.

The term can be parodied in other situations where a person is rendered romantically inviable due to the type of existing relationship, such as "brother/sister-zoned" (i.e. the object of the feelings views the other person like a sibling)
A: "Did you hear? Tom finally escaped the friendzone and now he and Claire are dating!"
B: Took him long enough! They may have been friends since middle school, but he's been pining after her for the last five years!"
by askite October 17, 2023
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