"Meet with" or "meet"

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Is there any difference in meaning between "meet with" and "meet"?
"I often meet with friends."

 

[emsr2d2]

I never use "meet with" when talking about a social occasion. I would use "meet up with" but that's different.

Social usage:
I often meet friends [for dinner/for a walk etc].
I often meet up with friends ...

Business usage:
I met with my bank manager yesterday.
His mother met with the school principal to discuss her son's behaviour.

For me, "meet with" is the equivalent of "attend a meeting with". That's not appropriate when you're simply talking about getting together with friends.