courts 1 of 2

Definition of courtsnext
plural of court
1
as in palaces
the residence of a ruler Hampton Court was the imposing residence of King Henry VIII

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2
as in courtyards
an open space wholly or partly enclosed (as by buildings or walls) the art museum boasts a glass-sided court that is filled with an array of greenery and sculpture

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3
4
as in judges
a public official having authority to decide questions of law if it please the court, I'd like to approach the bench

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courts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of court
1
as in woos
to act so as to make (something) more likely you're courting disaster if you keep playing with matches

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2
as in dates
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage they courted for a year before getting married

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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 courts
Noun
Morley also noted that any constitutional dispute tied to the elections clause could ultimately reach the Supreme Court after review by the Virginia courts. Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 11 Mar. 2026 The estate via the combative Branca, who is portrayed by Miles Teller in the heavily authorized (to put it very, very politely) Michael, has fought back in the courts against Paris Jackson’s actions. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026 With surface toll lanes, Frazier Park would need to relocate its dog park and several tennis and basketball courts, or lose them, Lynn said. Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 11 Mar. 2026 Cook County courts are part of that responsibility. Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026 That letter kicked off a legal saga that would last nearly two decades, winding through several courts, until the Australian High Court found on Wednesday the designer’s use of her own name for her clothing brand did not violate trademark laws. Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026 A little farther south, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach offer a quieter beach town feel with wide stretches of sand, volleyball courts, and cafes overlooking the water. Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026 For those seeking swift resolutions, allowing the marketplace and the courts to work things out is an unsatisfying option. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 10 Mar. 2026 Self is not expecting relief from the courts. Gary Bedore march 4, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
But the go-short approach courts big risks. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2026 The ensemble cast includes Ellie Bamber as Eleanor’s sister, Beatrice, and Ed Suter as Edward’s loyal squire Richard, who courts Beatrice amid the escalating tragedy. Robert Lang, Deadline, 27 Dec. 2025 Fox News, which courts an older linear audience, has put new focus on its reach via YouTube, X, TikTok and Instagram, among other venues. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courts
Noun
  • The Grand Lake Theater opened this week in March 1926, during a period when hundreds of movie palaces were opening around the United States every year.
    Martha Ross, Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2026
  • Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s palaces were targeted by both Bush, in 1991’s Operation Desert Storm, and Clinton, in 1998’s Operation Desert Fox.
    Tim Naftali, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Tropical landscaping melds effortlessly with the undisturbed vegetation enveloping the property, while a series of courtyards are tucked throughout the grounds, offering quiet nooks for relaxation.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Seville Quarter amps up the evenings with courtyards, live music, and classic cocktails, channeling a French Quarter vibe with Gulf Coast ease.
    Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • But through a series of deft legal maneuvers—joined to the ever more ambitious self-concepts of some international legal tribunals—Mauritius was able to win a second legal victory at another international tribunal, for the law of the sea.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026
  • The position will also represent the department in front of administrative tribunals such as the State Personnel Board and the California Department of Human Resources as well as assist the attorney general’s office on civil litigation matters.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado Updated February 24, Sacbee.com, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The question of whether the Administration’s bond policy is lawful will almost certainly reach the Supreme Court, but in the meantime hundreds of federal judges have taken issue with it.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026
  • Developers and states sued, and federal judges allowed all five to resume construction, essentially concluding that the government did not show that the national security risk was so imminent that construction must halt.
    Jennifer McDermott, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • As the President insults allies, woos dictators, and spurns long-standing commitments, Rubio has to convince his counterparts that America will not entirely abandon its friends.
    Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Congress is meant to approve an annual authorization bill to set NASA’s priorities and an appropriations bill that allocates money, but the former is often neglected; the most recent finalized NASA authorization bill dates to 2022.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 6 Mar. 2026
  • Court dates for the Hoggs were not scheduled as of Friday.
    Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The company is deepening and widening its local supplier partnerships to make components including lithium-ion cells, watch and phone enclosures and accessories such as AirPods.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
  • Every morning, animal care manager Kim Carr stops by to prepare breakfast, scattering treats across their enclosures that are filled with fake tree trunks, log piles and hanging branches — an organic jungle gym for creatures that are born to climb and play.
    Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • When are magistrates going to keep bad guys behind bars?
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Kwok's charge carried a maximum prison term of seven years, but his case was heard at the magistrates’ courts, which normally hand down sentences of no more than two years.
    ABC News, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Courts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courts. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

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