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
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 However, The Kardashians star and the global sports phenomenon sparked significant dating buzz back in 2012, even prompting ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols to ask Lin about a potential romantic connection point-blank. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 10 June 2026 Dostal said radiocarbon dating of the wooden stoppers placed them roughly in the late 1700s. CBS News, 4 June 2026 Franklyn and Cooper cofounded their podcast Call Her Daddy in 2018, which quickly became an internet sensation for its honest and humorous conversations about female sexuality and dating. Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026 After one year of dating, the couple announced their engagement in April 2001. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026 And that means modern dating is taking a hit. Sydney Lake, Fortune, 30 May 2026
Verb
LeBron and Savannah James first began dating in high school. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026 By every indication, the Bucks have been open for business with the Heat for months, dating to February’s NBA trade deadline. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 17 June 2026 The couple began dating in 2020 and made their relationship Instagram official that September. Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 Real quick Rex Heuermann was sentenced to multiple life sentences in prison for the murders of eight women dating back to 1993 whose remains were found at Gilgo Beach on Long Island. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 17 June 2026 Cusack's appearance at the London premiere of the film in May marked her first time walking the red carpet in 11 years, with her last carpet appearance dating back to September 2015. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026 Using what are known as argon-argon dating techniques, the researchers determined that these minerals formed over a surprisingly long period, spanning from the time of the impact 66 million years ago until roughly 58 million years ago. Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 10 June 2026 Swift and Abigail have been friends for more than a decade, dating back to their high school days in the mid-2000s. Allison Degrushe, StyleCaster, 10 June 2026 After getting two hits in Wednesday’s game, Lee is currently in the midst of an 18-game hitting streak, dating back to May 14, with many multi-hit explosions along the way. Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dating
Noun
  • Sheer black outfits that looked pulled from the pages of a gothic romance novel were draped on bodies.
    Precious Fondren, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • The Dutton side of Dutton Ranch is mostly represented by Carter, whose quasi-romance with Oreana Jackson bogged down last week’s episode, and who this week is an absolute mess.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Still, the accompanying 4,300-acre ski resort offers eco-adventures year-round, from river rafting and mountain biking to snowshoeing and ziplining.
    Sierra Vandervort, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2026
  • There is a much lower chance for accompanying thunder.
    David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Iván Cepeda aimed to mobilize Petro’s existing following rather than courting voters beyond it.
    Ines Capdevila, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Once one of the kingdom’s more conservative areas, Aseer is now courting domestic crowds and foreign tourists alike.
    Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • Yes, their courtship was singular, sweeping and at times volatile, but I was mostly struck by the acute disconnect between the way they were posthumously characterized by friends and family and the often misogynistic, reductive narrative that surrounded them at the time.
    Connor Hines, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
  • Dating, courtship, fun, hobbies, creativity, sports and games will all be on the top of your mind.
    Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • People attending the trial would also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing, or otherwise disrupting proceedings.
    Matthew Davisson, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • The royal, who was seen repeatedly blinking before jolting awake, was attending the annual ANZAC Day service at London's Westminster Abbey, which is held to commemorate Commonwealth soldiers from Australia, New Zealand and Canada who served and died in wars and peacekeeping operations.
    Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 19 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dating. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.

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