as in dating
the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married
after two years of courting, they finally married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in wooing
to act so as to make (something) more likely
you're courting disaster if you keep playing with matches
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in making love
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage
they courted for a year before getting married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of courting
Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Instead, through the course of this play, the artificiality of 19th-century marital courting and the exaggerated heroism of war are gradually stripped away, allowing the characters’ true voices, true callings and true partners to eventually emerge.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Of course, the only reason Oracle is in this position is down to Ellison’s courting of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, which has allowed his company, previously a distinct back-of-the-pack cloud company, to secure a massive stockpile of top-of-the-line Nvidia GPUs.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
More importantly, he’s seen as Kemp’s preferred pick in the race after the governor declined an opportunity to run himself despite much courting from his party.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025
The effort and time that goes into courting, the intentionality of charming someone, are part of the fun for me and doing so in person is the icing on the cake.
—Aj Mason, Them., 8 Aug. 2025
Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
London’s institutions are courting new crowds with silent discos, samurai suppers and lion-side glamping — all part of a creative reinvention.
—Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
The team’s Hollywood ties are legion, from Jack Nicholson on the sidelines to Jerry Buss courting celebrities with the Forum Club.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Mark, her husband, is a banker who cares more about courting his rich client Gerard (Tom Goodman-Hill) than listening to his partner.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025
Nike is courting the Aritzia girl.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
The couple aren't strangers to causing a frenzy — and courting controversy — on social media.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
College sports has collectively agreed to define private equity by the narrowest of definitions, all while courting the very types of deals that are the hallmark of the industry.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Arduino wasn’t known to be courting a buyer, and no hint or rumor of the deal leaked beforehand—a rarity for any tech acquisition brokered in 2025.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
By 1995, the BFC had streamlined the machinery of London Fashion Week and secured government funding for exhibitions, support for young designers, and the courting of overseas buyers.
—Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Instead, through the course of this play, the artificiality of 19th-century marital courting and the exaggerated heroism of war are gradually stripped away, allowing the characters’ true voices, true callings and true partners to eventually emerge.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Of course, the only reason Oracle is in this position is down to Ellison’s courting of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, which has allowed his company, previously a distinct back-of-the-pack cloud company, to secure a massive stockpile of top-of-the-line Nvidia GPUs.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
More importantly, he’s seen as Kemp’s preferred pick in the race after the governor declined an opportunity to run himself despite much courting from his party.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 17 Aug. 2025
The effort and time that goes into courting, the intentionality of charming someone, are part of the fun for me and doing so in person is the icing on the cake.
—Aj Mason, Them., 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
Kim Kardashian is courting chaos amongst her All’s Fair castmates.
—Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025
London’s institutions are courting new crowds with silent discos, samurai suppers and lion-side glamping — all part of a creative reinvention.
—Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
The team’s Hollywood ties are legion, from Jack Nicholson on the sidelines to Jerry Buss courting celebrities with the Forum Club.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025
Mark, her husband, is a banker who cares more about courting his rich client Gerard (Tom Goodman-Hill) than listening to his partner.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Oct. 2025
Nike is courting the Aritzia girl.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025
The couple aren't strangers to causing a frenzy — and courting controversy — on social media.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Oct. 2025
College sports has collectively agreed to define private equity by the narrowest of definitions, all while courting the very types of deals that are the hallmark of the industry.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Arduino wasn’t known to be courting a buyer, and no hint or rumor of the deal leaked beforehand—a rarity for any tech acquisition brokered in 2025.
—IEEE Spectrum, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courting
Noun
-
Blending genre-bending humor with social satire, the show examines modern life, dating, and identity through an inventive lens.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Andy Cohen talks dating life and app trouble Andy Cohen, father of two via surrogate, says dating looks a little different these days.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This pho has gone viral online, rightfully wooing diners while honoring its Vietnamese roots.—
Bao Ong,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Sep. 2025
-
While the likes of McDonald’s and Subway have hardly vanished from terminals, concessions companies are increasingly wooing popular local eateries and celebrity chefs to bring their signature menu items to the traveling public.—
Lori Weisberg,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Courting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courting. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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