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
Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
But Armour, who grew up swimming alongside these creatures and works for local outfitter Diving With Giants, is doing his best translation of their cetacean courting calls.
—Adam Erace, Fortune, 24 May 2026
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
Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Raman has a better shot at a top-two slot if supporters of socialist Rae Huang break for her, and Pratt is courting businessman Adam Miller’s voters.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Newcastle are not actively courting offers for Nick Woltemade, their £64m record acquisition, though interest may arrive from Germany.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Both candidates are courting different Iowa voters, though.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 2 June 2026
As support drifted toward De la Espriella, Valencia shifted between courting radical right-wing voters and appealing to the center.
—Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
The tool makers are courting creators directly, too.
—Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
In both races, candidates have, to varying degrees, been courting the ever-elusive Latino vote.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Sunset Studios are courting microdrama productions with the debut of standing sets tailor-made for the verticals format.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Noun
Some of it was sought-after — Levinson is a provocateur, and his courting of controversy has earned the series nine Emmy wins and far more nominations.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026
But Armour, who grew up swimming alongside these creatures and works for local outfitter Diving With Giants, is doing his best translation of their cetacean courting calls.
—Adam Erace, Fortune, 24 May 2026
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
Verb
In San Francisco, patrons and politicians courting big-budget opera, dance, and theater productions were pushed by protests to designate funds for cultural centers in the Mission and other neighborhoods.
—Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Raman has a better shot at a top-two slot if supporters of socialist Rae Huang break for her, and Pratt is courting businessman Adam Miller’s voters.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
Newcastle are not actively courting offers for Nick Woltemade, their £64m record acquisition, though interest may arrive from Germany.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 2 June 2026
Both candidates are courting different Iowa voters, though.
—Saige Miller, NPR, 2 June 2026
As support drifted toward De la Espriella, Valencia shifted between courting radical right-wing voters and appealing to the center.
—Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 1 June 2026
The tool makers are courting creators directly, too.
—Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
In both races, candidates have, to varying degrees, been courting the ever-elusive Latino vote.
—Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Sunset Studios are courting microdrama productions with the debut of standing sets tailor-made for the verticals format.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 27 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courting
Noun
-
After one year of dating, the couple announced their engagement in April 2001.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
-
And that means modern dating is taking a hit.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
30 May 2026
Verb
-
Having not spent more than £3million ($4m) on a player on the way to the top division, the £16m transfer from Roma of Enzo Le Fee was confirmed, while majority shareholder Kyril Louis-Dreyfus used his Swiss contacts to start wooing Granit Xhaka.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
With the June 2 primary days away, California’s top three governor hopefuls barnstormed the state Friday, wooing unions, firing attacks and sharpening contrasts in a tight, high-stakes race.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courting. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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