dating 1 of 2

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

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dating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of date
1
as in accompanying
to go on a social engagement with I don't want to date him—I'd rather just be friends

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2
as in courting
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage we dated for two years before we got engaged

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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 dating
Noun
Online dating remains a popular way people search for a partner but some are dumping the platforms. Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 This is one of the best periods in a twelve-year cycle for true love and dating, fertility or connecting with children, expression and artistry, as well as hobbies and just having fun! Kyle Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 June 2026 After seven years of dating and the birth of their eldest child, Andrea married the billionaire heiress in a private civil ceremony in Monaco in August 2013. Staff Author, InStyle, 23 June 2026 Macleod and his colleagues sequenced the DNA of the plague victims, piecing together how they were related and (through radiocarbon dating) when each member of the family died. ArsTechnica, 18 June 2026 Groucutt notes a significant issue in paleoethology relates to the dating of sites, as the techniques used can yield vastly different results. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 2026 There are some lingering elements of conservatism in eharmony, particularly its questions about faith and politics, but at least the app allows same-sex dating. Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 12 June 2026 Crow and her colleagues used radiometric dating and chemical analysis on NWA 12593 to successfully identify evidence of three major impact events in the moon’s past. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 June 2026 Dostal said radiocarbon dating of the wooden stoppers placed them roughly in the late 1700s. CBS News, 4 June 2026
Verb
That ended Woo’s streak of home shutout innings at 32 1/3, which stretched over a span of five games dating to May 6 against Atlanta. Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 Keyser was on the show for four episodes before she was removed from the Peacock dating show. Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 1 July 2026 After almost a decade of dating, Cristiano Ronaldo put a ring on it. Freya Drohan, InStyle, 30 June 2026 Working with the British Antarctic Survey, Thomson was mapping the area's rock layers and collected marine reptile fossils to help with future dating efforts. CBS News, 30 June 2026 For a dip into some Western romance, Elsie Silver’s latest is about a bull rider, Emmett, who attempts to save his family farm by landing himself on a reality dating show. Nissa Renzo, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026 On Friday, Peacock announced the 21-year-old had been fired from the popular reality dating show. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Yes, Wilkins has been a country-music artist for some years now, with releases dating back to 2015 on her Instagram that featured, spoiler alert, American-flag cover art. Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2026 The Juszczyks became friendly with Swift after Kelce started dating her in 2023 — enough that Kristin enjoyed a career-defining moment as an aspiring fashion designer, courtesy of the Grammy winner. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dating
Noun
  • Everything from the casting (male dancers, internet faves, and very few actual models) to the scenery (a 191-year-old venue with plenty of stained glass) to the ambiance (candlelit, with lots of bows and florals) embodied the brand's quintessential mix of romance, community, and nostalgia.
    Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 26 June 2026
  • The action, set on France’s rugged northern coast, is anchored by teen romance, involves far-right anti-migrant activists, and is complicated by blue goo from space that creates clones—including of the two loopy police officers who investigate.
    Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The Harriet Tubman Journey to Freedom statue is accompanying them on the walk.
    Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 28 June 2026
  • Yale President Maurie McInnis issued a statement accompanying the report that takes responsibility for the university’s role in losing public trust.
    Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • The biggest of big media — from Amazon to Fox and Tubi to Netflix — are aggressively courting creators for deals as marketers scramble to tap into the heat around personalities who ply their trade on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and the like.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 27 June 2026
  • In his place, acting President Delcy Rodríguez has been cautiously liberalizing the economy and courting foreign oil companies, while currying favor with Washington pragmatically and seeking relief from crushing sanctions.
    John Liu, CNN Money, 25 June 2026
Noun
  • Through it all, the growth of dating apps has changed how courtship is practiced.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 27 June 2026
  • According to the heteronormative version of bluegill courtship, mating season begins when males start building nests—basically, bowl-like depressions in the lake bed.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The indictment alleges that the defendants — Harman Pahal, 21, Cameron Chouanmasay, 20, Colton Malone, 21, Julian Calderon, 20, and Jaskarn Batth, 20 — met while attending Bullard High School in Fresno.
    Lyanne Wang, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Most cases involved people attending their first hearing in their immigration case.
    Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dating. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

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