as in romance
the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married
their dating had been going on for so long that she was starting to wonder if she'd ever take that trip down the aisle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in accompanying
to go on a social engagement with
I don't want to date him—I'd rather just be friends
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in courting
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage
we dated for two years before we got engaged
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 dating
Annabel Gat, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
The show is good at making the off-and-on vicissitudes of modern dating feel natural to the plot.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
Over the last decade or so, Avgitidis said she's seen people burned out by online dating and seeking things a profile alone can't reveal.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Erika Ettin is the founder of A Little Nudge, a consulting company that helps people navigate the world of online dating, from first click to first date.
—Erika Ettin, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
What, exactly, is the impact of interracial dating?
—Dorothy Roberts, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Some siblings are inseparable, talking daily and sharing even the most TMI dating updates.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Feb. 2026
Guests are guaranteed to speak to at least 10 people and continue the conversations during a singles mixer after the speed dating concludes.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
First dates, blind dates, relationship coaching, speed dating, finding love, and breaking hearts — all of these common human experiences help to normalize an often misunderstood community.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
The win was the Americans’ first over Sweden in an Olympic tournament in nine games dating to 1960.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The dating landscape is precarious at best.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Her career World Cup wins in all disciplines currently stands at 108 and counting, including eight in her last nine slalom starts dating to the end of last season.
—Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The couple began dating four years later at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, which featured limited outside interaction due to COVID concerns.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Turns out, red flags go beyond dating.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
The duo met as teenagers at a dance competition and began dating in high school before relocating to Los Angeles together in 2015 to pursue dance careers.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Records about settling down tend to bask in the thrills of leaving dating behind and getting the chance to forge a new life.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Looking to the more recent past, 2002’s Water Horse marked the very early years of online dating, and all the stigma that came with it.
—Annabel Gat, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2026
The show is good at making the off-and-on vicissitudes of modern dating feel natural to the plot.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2026
Over the last decade or so, Avgitidis said she's seen people burned out by online dating and seeking things a profile alone can't reveal.
—Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Erika Ettin is the founder of A Little Nudge, a consulting company that helps people navigate the world of online dating, from first click to first date.
—Erika Ettin, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2026
What, exactly, is the impact of interracial dating?
—Dorothy Roberts, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Some siblings are inseparable, talking daily and sharing even the most TMI dating updates.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 4 Feb. 2026
Guests are guaranteed to speak to at least 10 people and continue the conversations during a singles mixer after the speed dating concludes.
—Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 1 Feb. 2026
First dates, blind dates, relationship coaching, speed dating, finding love, and breaking hearts — all of these common human experiences help to normalize an often misunderstood community.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
When a promising romantic interest enters the picture, his friends question the relationship’s validity and his dating choices, creating friction for him within the group.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2026
The win was the Americans’ first over Sweden in an Olympic tournament in nine games dating to 1960.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The dating landscape is precarious at best.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Her career World Cup wins in all disciplines currently stands at 108 and counting, including eight in her last nine slalom starts dating to the end of last season.
—Will Graves, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The couple began dating four years later at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, which featured limited outside interaction due to COVID concerns.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
Turns out, red flags go beyond dating.
—Elyssa Kaufman, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
The duo met as teenagers at a dance competition and began dating in high school before relocating to Los Angeles together in 2015 to pursue dance careers.
—Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 2026
Records about settling down tend to bask in the thrills of leaving dating behind and getting the chance to forge a new life.
—Stephen Kearse, Pitchfork, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dating
Noun
-
This enchanting and timeless tale, filled with the romance and grandeur audiences know and love, features spectacular new sets and dazzling costumes.—
Rick Mauch,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Feb. 2026
-
If all of their notoriously violent fights are going to be like this, the show is going to struggle to sustain the tumultuousness of their romance.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The deranged demeanor accompanying her rude responses under oath deserves an Oscar nomination in the cringe and horror categories.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The sudden flood of oxytocin accompanying the onset of the drug produces feelings of emotional communion, oneness, and openness.—
Erica Rex,
STAT,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Armed with beauty, daring/hustle and sheer force of will/unwavering ambition, Undine battles an entrenched elite, fearlessly courting controversy, until love and fortune align.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2026
-
In the hills above Carmel, a new compound built inside Clint Eastwood’s exclusive Tehama community is courting homebuyers who might want three generations under one roof — without sacrificing privacy.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
How Reiss manages to acquire enough autographed books from actors, athletes, and best-selling authors to stock an entire store involves a mix of courtship, logistics, and luck.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The bright spot in her life is the love of Baba (Christ Assidjim Mbaihornom), a teenage villager whose family doesn’t approve of the courtship.—
Murtada Elfadl,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While attending the Los Angeles premiere of Sandiwara on February 19, the Oscar-winning actor opted to go the route of making a bold statement for her movie night ensemble.—
Daisy Maldonado,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
-
For those attending, Democratic leaders are warning members to abstain from protests inside the chamber.—
Lisa Hagen,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dating. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
