woo

verb

ˈwü 

wooed; wooing; woos

transitive verb

1

: to sue for the affection of and usually marriage with : court

2

: to solicit or entreat especially with importunity

woo new customers

3

: to seek to gain or bring about

intransitive verb

: to court a woman

wooer noun

Synonyms of woo

• invite
• seek

Examples of woo in a Sentence

The store had a sale in an effort to woo new customers.

The company must find creative ways to woo new employees.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Rangers selected Collyer in the 12th round of the 2019 draft, gave him a $585,000 bonus to woo him away from a Clemson scholarship and re-signed him to a minor league deal this winter when his first contract expired. —Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

This vireo actually is singing its song to woo a mate or deter another potential romantic partner from intruding on its territory. —Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026

Many homebuilders have had to lean on buyer incentives like price cuts to woo potential customers. —Bloomberg, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026

Paramount leadership has insisted its deal is better and has spent the last couple months wooing regulators and shareholders. —Lucas Shaw, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wowen, from Old English wōgian

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing woo

• woo-hoo
• woo-woo

Rhymes for woo

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

woo

verb

ˈwü 

1

: to try to gain the love of : court

2

: to seek to gain or bring about

political candidates wooing public support