The Internet has transformed our lives very quickly. It has changed the words we use. The website Dictionary.com started two decades ago. It has looked back to see how the Internet has created new definitions to many common words. It said, "the rise of technology has shaped our word use over time". It blogged about 20 words that have expanded in meaning. The site has been recording new meanings for words since, "the dawn of the Internet era".

One of the biggest changes is to the word "friend. This was always a noun. The rise of Facebook means it is now a verb too. Another form of this word is "befriend," which means to become friends with someone (usually in the real world). The word "tablet" once referred to a flat piece of stone, clay, or wood used to write on. Now it is a touchscreen device with Internet. Other words that have new definitions include "cloud," "wireless," and "viral".