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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of courting
Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
During Netflix’s courting process, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said all the right things and won over many inside HBO with the idea that the brand would stay intact and operate as its own quality label, much like FX inside Hulu and Disney.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The courting of crypto He has been courting crypto ever since.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
And his courting of white nationalists and antisemites changed the face of the party.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
With the courting process complete, Harbaugh is now tasked with turning around the beleaguered franchise that has made just two playoff appearances over the past 12 years and not made it past the divisional round.
—Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Truth is, romance isn’t solely about the grand gestures and lavish courting.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
In addition to Air, the 2023 film about Nike’s courting of a young Michael Jordan, Convery is set to write the screenplay for The Tiger Slam, about Tiger Woods’ run of winning four consecutive major golf tournaments in 2000 and 2001.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 9 Dec. 2025
As the red bird had never been observed courting, it was assumed female.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025
Lisa Gutierrez
march 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
The United Arab Emirates, along with many other countries, has mobilised air defenses as attacks have continued into the second week of the conflict and rushed to reassure citizens and international investors, whom the country has been courting for years.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz,emma Graham, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Fresh out of business school in Paris, the entrepreneur was courting startups and other smaller companies.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Armed with beauty, daring, hustle, sheer force of will and unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
While the Olsens have stayed out of the public eye in recent years, Sweetin and Bure's relationship has often made headlines thanks to the Great American Family channel star frequently courting controversy with her anti-LGBTQ+ stances.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
Qatar, after being put on the global map by Al Jazeera and the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, is now turning to film and TV and courting Hollywood.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Of course, Carrey has long been known for courting controversy and making unconventional personal choices, so being the target of a conspiracy theory probably isn’t off brand.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
His opponents on the left criticized him for courting Big Business rather than looking out for working people who wouldn’t have had the means to hire a McKinsey consultant.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
It’s often said that age is just a number, and a new Netflix reality dating series will soon put the old adage to the test by taking age entirely out of the courting equation.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
During Netflix’s courting process, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said all the right things and won over many inside HBO with the idea that the brand would stay intact and operate as its own quality label, much like FX inside Hulu and Disney.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The courting of crypto He has been courting crypto ever since.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
And his courting of white nationalists and antisemites changed the face of the party.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
With the courting process complete, Harbaugh is now tasked with turning around the beleaguered franchise that has made just two playoff appearances over the past 12 years and not made it past the divisional round.
—Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Truth is, romance isn’t solely about the grand gestures and lavish courting.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
In addition to Air, the 2023 film about Nike’s courting of a young Michael Jordan, Convery is set to write the screenplay for The Tiger Slam, about Tiger Woods’ run of winning four consecutive major golf tournaments in 2000 and 2001.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 9 Dec. 2025
As the red bird had never been observed courting, it was assumed female.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
The red pigeon in Barnes’ throuple was presumed to be female because it had never been seen courting.
—Lisa Gutierrez
march 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
The United Arab Emirates, along with many other countries, has mobilised air defenses as attacks have continued into the second week of the conflict and rushed to reassure citizens and international investors, whom the country has been courting for years.
—Kai Nicol-Schwarz,emma Graham, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2026
Fresh out of business school in Paris, the entrepreneur was courting startups and other smaller companies.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Armed with beauty, daring, hustle, sheer force of will and unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
While the Olsens have stayed out of the public eye in recent years, Sweetin and Bure's relationship has often made headlines thanks to the Great American Family channel star frequently courting controversy with her anti-LGBTQ+ stances.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Mar. 2026
Qatar, after being put on the global map by Al Jazeera and the 2022 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament, is now turning to film and TV and courting Hollywood.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Mar. 2026
Of course, Carrey has long been known for courting controversy and making unconventional personal choices, so being the target of a conspiracy theory probably isn’t off brand.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
His opponents on the left criticized him for courting Big Business rather than looking out for working people who wouldn’t have had the means to hire a McKinsey consultant.
—Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courting
Noun
-
The discovery and dating of Monte Verde, which was initially mired in controversy, appeared to put that to rest.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The discovery and dating of Monte Verde, which was initially mired in controversy, appeared to put that to rest.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Candidates fanned out across the state to hit traditional campaign stops in the final weekend before Tuesday’s primary, wooing local audiences in an election increasingly overcome by national events and out-of-state money.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
But don’t install dramatic tile in the bathroom or statement-making wallpaper in the dining room solely in hopes of wooing a buyer, as decorating taste is incredibly subjective, notes Nolen.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courting. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
