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
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
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Lumentum appears to be courting more customers for its optical circuit switches — a major source of potential upside for the stock, JPMorgan said.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Madrid has, however, gone further by moving to regularize nearly half a million undocumented migrants and by courting many more foreigners, a push that its socialist prime minister has argued is helping drive an economic boom.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Chavismo defined itself globally by broadcasting fiery anti-Americanism while courting allies in Havana, Moscow, and Tehran to champion a multipolar world.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
Franks had already been courting Willie Mays as the team’s potential manager, according to Vaccaro.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Elite resorts around the world are increasingly courting younger guests with surprisingly sophisticated wellness menus, some of them designed for children as young as 3.
—Kathryn Romeyn, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Fresh out of business school in Paris, the entrepreneur was courting startups and other smaller companies.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 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
And that’s a risk that The Audacity is courting in a premiere that doesn’t care yet about turning its satirical targets into antiheroes, which is what Glatzer was doing on Better Call Saul and Succession.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2026
Lumentum appears to be courting more customers for its optical circuit switches — a major source of potential upside for the stock, JPMorgan said.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
Madrid has, however, gone further by moving to regularize nearly half a million undocumented migrants and by courting many more foreigners, a push that its socialist prime minister has argued is helping drive an economic boom.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 6 Apr. 2026
Chavismo defined itself globally by broadcasting fiery anti-Americanism while courting allies in Havana, Moscow, and Tehran to champion a multipolar world.
—Boris Muñoz, Time, 3 Apr. 2026
Franks had already been courting Willie Mays as the team’s potential manager, according to Vaccaro.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
Elite resorts around the world are increasingly courting younger guests with surprisingly sophisticated wellness menus, some of them designed for children as young as 3.
—Kathryn Romeyn, HollywoodReporter, 24 Mar. 2026
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
Fresh out of business school in Paris, the entrepreneur was courting startups and other smaller companies.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courting
Noun
-
Each season follows a new group of individuals on the autism spectrum navigating love, dating, and relationships.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The past period has added extra emphasis around the active pursuit of one of your heart’s desires, such as romance and dating, situations surrounding children, creative endeavors or hobbies.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Heath Ledger played Patrick Verona, a rebellious teen with a mysterious past who accepts the challenge of wooing Kat.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Courting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courting. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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