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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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of dating
Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Aside from fake dating, the novel is full of beloved, albeit cheesy, rom-com tropes.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Radiocarbon dating, conducted in 1988 by three separate laboratories, dated the fabric between 1260 and 1390, said Andrea Nicolotti, a professor of the history of Christianity and churches at the University of Turin who was not involved with the study but had worked with Sarzeaud previously.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Core samples and isotope-dating of the metal-rich carbonatites recently discovered in Australia’s Northern Territory indicate that the rocks traveled near the Earth’s surface between 830 and 820 million years ago.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
But the biggest obvious takeaway from To All the Boys is the fake dating.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Study authors argue that the actual dating of most archaeological sites in Australia would fall between 43,000 and 54,000 years.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2025
No dating was allowed, nor was any employment outside the call center; victims were required to sleep at the call center.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2025
In the new opening segment, Bush Hager and Guthrie discussed teen dating, including the experiences of the co-hosts themselves.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
No one cares if a 45-year-old man is dating a 55-year-old woman.
—Linsey Hughes, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
The Bachelor franchise has always stuck by a somewhat silly dogma—that despite the fact that its premise (one star dating 20-plus suitors) is ridiculous and inherently a little raunchy, the show is at its core a pure slice of an Americana fairy tale.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
For the most part, Grand Street between Driggs and Roebling is a clean line of low brick buildings, some dating to the 19th century.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 10 Sep. 2025
The pair have been dating for a few months, a source previously told PEOPLE.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
After the scandal, Paul began dating Dakota Mortensen, who appeared on Mormon Wives with her.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Though Leviev was still on Tinder when the documentary was released, the dating app has since banned him from the platform.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The two had been dating for close to a year, drawn together by their friendship and love of sports.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Noun
This leaves many users disillusioned with digital dating and pushes them toward reverse catfishing in pursuit of less performative connections.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Aside from fake dating, the novel is full of beloved, albeit cheesy, rom-com tropes.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
Radiocarbon dating, conducted in 1988 by three separate laboratories, dated the fabric between 1260 and 1390, said Andrea Nicolotti, a professor of the history of Christianity and churches at the University of Turin who was not involved with the study but had worked with Sarzeaud previously.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Core samples and isotope-dating of the metal-rich carbonatites recently discovered in Australia’s Northern Territory indicate that the rocks traveled near the Earth’s surface between 830 and 820 million years ago.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2025
But the biggest obvious takeaway from To All the Boys is the fake dating.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
Study authors argue that the actual dating of most archaeological sites in Australia would fall between 43,000 and 54,000 years.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2025
No dating was allowed, nor was any employment outside the call center; victims were required to sleep at the call center.
—Tresa Baldas, Freep.com, 27 Aug. 2025
In the new opening segment, Bush Hager and Guthrie discussed teen dating, including the experiences of the co-hosts themselves.
—Jordana Comiter, People.com, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
Her hobbies include lusting after them, dating them, hanging out at their beach house, contemplative night-swimming in their pool, and occasionally playing volleyball.
—Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
No one cares if a 45-year-old man is dating a 55-year-old woman.
—Linsey Hughes, Flow Space, 10 Sep. 2025
The Bachelor franchise has always stuck by a somewhat silly dogma—that despite the fact that its premise (one star dating 20-plus suitors) is ridiculous and inherently a little raunchy, the show is at its core a pure slice of an Americana fairy tale.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 10 Sep. 2025
For the most part, Grand Street between Driggs and Roebling is a clean line of low brick buildings, some dating to the 19th century.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 10 Sep. 2025
The pair have been dating for a few months, a source previously told PEOPLE.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 10 Sep. 2025
After the scandal, Paul began dating Dakota Mortensen, who appeared on Mormon Wives with her.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Though Leviev was still on Tinder when the documentary was released, the dating app has since banned him from the platform.
—Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The two had been dating for close to a year, drawn together by their friendship and love of sports.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dating
Noun
-
What’s fall reading without a little hockey romance?—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The movie, which premiered at TIFF, stars Dinklage as store manager Mitch and Kirsten Dunst as Leigh, a Toys ‘R’ Us employee who develops a romance with the fugitive.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The dispute was heard by an arbitrator (and not a judge) because, per SPAC language and accompanying NBPA regulations, player-agent disputes are subject to arbitration.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
As of publication, the song and its accompanying video are only available on social media.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Adcock hasn’t been shy about courting controversy.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
13 Sep. 2025
-
As the fashion types begin to migrate to New York for the start of fashion week, the C-suite bigwigs were leaning in on Wall Street, courting investors at Goldman Sachs’ annual retail conference.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The kind of public living room, knitted into the social fabric of Powell’s native Dublin, that so bewitched Mester during their transatlantic courtship.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ryan DeVries, who works in property management and volunteers as a first responder, left his firearm in his car before attending Kirk’s event, anticipating metal detectors.—
Rachel Wolf , Pilar Arias,
FOXNews.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Both parents frequently share photos on Facebook of the family attending sporting games together, spending holidays together and going on vacations.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dating. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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