Thesaurus results for COURTS

courts 1 of 2

noun

plural of court

as in palaces

the residence of a ruler Hampton Court was the imposing residence of King Henry VIII

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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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as in tribunals

an assembly of persons for the administration of justice this court is now called to order

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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

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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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

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound Purdue transfer, cleared by the courts to play courtesy of a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit against the NCAA, came off the bench to score nine points on 4-of-5 shooting. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2026 Veterans Park will see two tennis courts fully rebuilt and its basketball courts replaced. — Steve Zalusky, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026 The incumbent senator is identified as such on the ballot, and Alaska courts have already rejected similar challenges. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026 These are issues that even courts can have trouble adjudicating in the best circumstances. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026 That is a strong assumption — not a certainty about how the courts will rule — and Zucman disputes it. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026 Several courts have upheld the firing of deputy sheriffs for political reasons. — News Editor, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026 But his planning doesn’t mean that the tax would survive the courts, and in any case, not every billionaire will necessarily make similar arrangements. — Ramesh Ponnuru, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2026 Rubio has argued that before holding new elections, Venezuela must stabilize its economy and rebuild its institutions, including its courts and electoral council. — Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Verb

The show sought to expand norms of representation—a project whose sincerity all but courts the cringeworthy—with artists hell-bent on deconstructing the drive for beauty, including Orlan, Sara Cwynar, Juno Calypso, and Haley Morris-Cafiero. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 The regulator’s move comes as the country courts new mining investment, including from the US, and seeks to ensure that Congolese partners genuinely own and help run the businesses supplying its mines, in line with its laws. — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026 But the edge of the nation also courts natural disasters, including mudslides, earthquakes and wildfires. — David G. Allan, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026 Carney courts a familiar crowd Few people know this crowd better than Carney. — Rob Gillies, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026 But while the BlackWidow courts a crowd more interested in cracking open their keyboards for DIY tweaks, the Huntsman V3 Pro TKL 8K targets gamers who want fast inputs and faster reaction times. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 21 July 2026 One night in April when the boy playing Orlando was home sick and Jamie was waiting for Adele in their private coital chamber, Bromley kept her late to work on the scene where Orlando courts Rosalind playing Ganymede playing Rosalind. — Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 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

Plant in the past has bid against, and beat, the Historic Royal Palaces charity in London, who alongside managing unoccupied royal palaces in the UK also conserve and display royal ceremonial dress.

— Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Obama compared the White House decor to Saddam Hussein’s palaces, right?

— Jura Koncius, Washington Post, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of palaces

Noun

Backing up to the Cary Country Club and not far from the Fox River, the interior layout of this home is organized around courtyards, with a separate bedroom wing.

— Rachel Freundt, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2026
Sensory gardens are showing up in home listings, school courtyards and botanical parks, and homeowners want to know whether the idea actually works in their own backyard.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of courtyards

Noun

Her decision triggered a battle over legal consequences surrounding workplace misconduct claims and the authority of campus tribunals.

— Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2026
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, while posturing as the guardian of a democratic transition, governed through massacres and military tribunals.

— Abdelrahman ElGendy, Time, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of tribunals

Noun

So far under the president's second term, the Senate has confirmed 57 judges, which include 10 appeals court judges, 46 district judges and one member of the Court of International Trade.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
Miller has long sought to jail journalists, undermine the authority of judges, surge armed soldiers into American streets and suspend the writ of habeas corpus, a legal process that allows immigrants to challenge their detention.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of judges

Verb

There was a very enthusiastic response to the movie in the room, with Cruz and Bardem sharing hugs during the applause and woos from the crowd.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
The iconic destination woos visitors with its rich history, stunning architecture, and a unique network of bridges and canals linking neighborhoods across the Venetian lagoon.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of woos

Verb

The singles will be divided and hosted in two group dates in capital city Helsinki and Tampere located in Europe’s largest lake district, Finland’s Lakeland region.

— Lola Akinmade, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Clifton’s, the famed institution that dates to 1935, once a Depression-era oasis designed to look like a woodsy, Northern California lodge, has quietly started operating again after years of post-pandemic fits and starts.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of dates

Noun

The committee is expected to propose 32 magistrates for approval by the National Assembly, with the goal of installing a new court by mid-December, according to the official.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Italian magistrates accused Egyptian authorities of withholding key information requested through international legal channels, an allegation Cairo rejected.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026