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.
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Recent Examples of dating
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
David Kuang, a 21-year-old Columbia University student, said the economics of dating can make every outing feel like a gamble.
—Charlotte Morabito, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
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 dimensions of the timbers correspond exactly to the drawings of the ship that survive, and the dendrochronological dating matches the vessel’s year of construction in 1772.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Dendrochronological dating, the method of using tree rings to establish the age of wood, match the year the ship was built.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
And smaller group chats are where real conversations are happening (even online dating is moving IRL again).
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The discovery and dating of Monte Verde, which was initially mired in controversy, appeared to put that to rest.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The news comes after a complicated few months for The Bachelor, which was once one of TV’s most popular reality TV dating shows.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Mar. 2026
Terry Collins, USA Today, 7 May 2026
As digital platforms have expanded, dating has become increasingly integrated into everyday routines, often reduced to quick interactions that compete with other forms of digital engagement.
—Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Matthew and Camila met in 2006 and began dating by 2007; the couple married in 2012.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The utility has a subterranean network of some 4,600 miles of pipes under the city, including significant stretches of original cast and ductile iron — some dating back to the 1800s — which pose a risk of gas leaks that could lead to an explosion.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Adaptogens have been used for thousands of years, dating as far back as Emperor Shen-Nung, the second of China’s emperors (3500-2600 BC).
—Ryan Brennan
may 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
San Diego is 40-23 against San Francisco, dating to the 2022 season.
—CBS News, 6 May 2026
Throughout March, rumors that West had begun dating his co-star Amanda Batula flooded gossip sites, though the two continuously denied said claims.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
Was the plan always leveraging dating apps to find cooking candidates?
—Emily Bloch, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
As the month unfolds, dating becomes more playful, flirtatious and spontaneous.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
David Kuang, a 21-year-old Columbia University student, said the economics of dating can make every outing feel like a gamble.
—Charlotte Morabito, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
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 dimensions of the timbers correspond exactly to the drawings of the ship that survive, and the dendrochronological dating matches the vessel’s year of construction in 1772.
—Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Dendrochronological dating, the method of using tree rings to establish the age of wood, match the year the ship was built.
—CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
And smaller group chats are where real conversations are happening (even online dating is moving IRL again).
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 27 Mar. 2026
The discovery and dating of Monte Verde, which was initially mired in controversy, appeared to put that to rest.
—Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
The news comes after a complicated few months for The Bachelor, which was once one of TV’s most popular reality TV dating shows.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
Overall, among Catholic Americans who have seen this feud become the most contentious relationship between a secular leader and the papacy dating back to medieval times, the pope's favorability climbs to 61%, the poll said.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 7 May 2026
As digital platforms have expanded, dating has become increasingly integrated into everyday routines, often reduced to quick interactions that compete with other forms of digital engagement.
—Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
Matthew and Camila met in 2006 and began dating by 2007; the couple married in 2012.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
The utility has a subterranean network of some 4,600 miles of pipes under the city, including significant stretches of original cast and ductile iron — some dating back to the 1800s — which pose a risk of gas leaks that could lead to an explosion.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
Adaptogens have been used for thousands of years, dating as far back as Emperor Shen-Nung, the second of China’s emperors (3500-2600 BC).
—Ryan Brennan
may 6, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2026
San Diego is 40-23 against San Francisco, dating to the 2022 season.
—CBS News, 6 May 2026
Throughout March, rumors that West had begun dating his co-star Amanda Batula flooded gossip sites, though the two continuously denied said claims.
—Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 29 Apr. 2026
Was the plan always leveraging dating apps to find cooking candidates?
—Emily Bloch, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dating
Noun
-
Filming a Nicolas Winding Refn movie while talking through your Club Kid romance from afar must have been interesting.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
-
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as childhood pals turned hot and bothered frenemies having quite the torrid love affair as adults in a sumptuous and quite haughty bad romance.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
No Doubt's Adrian Young, Gwen Stefani, Tony Kanal and Tom Dumont tour The No Doubt Experience, the immersive fan pop-up accompanying their Las Vegas residency at Sphere.—
People Staff,
PEOPLE,
9 May 2026
-
The accompanying bathroom sports dual quartz vanities and an oversize porcelain shower topped by an arched clerestory window.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
To build up his personal injury and criminal defense practice, Rick Sand once moved into a tent in North Dakota while courting clients during the Bakken oil boom, at a time and in a place where housing was in short supply.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
-
Community organizer Rae Huang is also running at the left end of the political spectrum, while Adam Miller, who made a fortune on education software, has been courting moderate voters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The court’s decision could be described as a contracts law equivalent of two people not being forced to marry after they got engaged and their courtship soured.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Listeners who’d never stolen away to a soft-serve stand under the guise of an innocent meetup responded to the song’s mellifluous reading of coming-of-age courtship and simpler-days nostalgia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Jeanine Pirro were attending the April 25 event at the Washington Hilton when Cole Tomas Allen allegedly ran through a security checkpoint and fired a shotgun at a Secret Service officer.—
Michael Kunzelman,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
While attending San Diego State University in the mid-1980s, Harwood was influenced by teachings about social justice.—
Jan Goldsmith,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dating. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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