as in dating
the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married
after two years of courting, they finally married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in wooing
to act so as to make (something) more likely
you're courting disaster if you keep playing with matches
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in making love
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage
they courted for a year before getting married
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of courting
S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
With the courting process complete, Harbaugh is now tasked with turning around the beleaguered franchise that has made just two playoff appearances over the past 12 years and not made it past the divisional round.
—Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Truth is, romance isn’t solely about the grand gestures and lavish courting.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
In addition to Air, the 2023 film about Nike’s courting of a young Michael Jordan, Convery is set to write the screenplay for The Tiger Slam, about Tiger Woods’ run of winning four consecutive major golf tournaments in 2000 and 2001.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 9 Dec. 2025
As the red bird had never been observed courting, it was assumed female.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025
As boundaries shrink and conventions blur, romantic rivalries continue to erupt—as do their possibilities onscreen, from the partner-sharing poignancy of Jules et Jim to the karmic relationships of Sex and the City to the competitive-courting of Challengers.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
By 1995, the BFC had streamlined the machinery of London Fashion Week and secured government funding for exhibitions, support for young designers, and the courting of overseas buyers.
—Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Instead, through the course of this play, the artificiality of 19th-century marital courting and the exaggerated heroism of war are gradually stripped away, allowing the characters’ true voices, true callings and true partners to eventually emerge.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
After spending the second half of 2025 (and following the annual report’s release), courting its value chain colleagues, five heavy-hitters joined that ecosystem.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Two investment banks, JP Morgan Chase and the Raine Group, are assisting the NBA in courting investors.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Community organizer Rae Huang has been courting the city’s left-leaning voters, appearing with podcaster Hasan Piker in a conversation about housing policy.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
All's fair in love and war — an idiom that Cressida (second from left, played by Jessica Madsen) and her meddling mama would do well to remember while courting the Prince!
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
As with many other courting rituals of the Regency era, only a man could ask a woman to dance—not the other way around.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Nationally, the skin care executive said Macy’s and Dillard’s are specifically courting luxury brands and clients.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
The West is courting China — the leaders of Canada, Finland, France, and Germany have also either visited recently or will soon — but a former Canadian diplomat jailed by China warned that drawing close to an authoritarian, expansionist Beijing also has risks.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
And his courting of white nationalists and antisemites changed the face of the party.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 4 Feb. 2026
With the courting process complete, Harbaugh is now tasked with turning around the beleaguered franchise that has made just two playoff appearances over the past 12 years and not made it past the divisional round.
—Stephen Whyno, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Truth is, romance isn’t solely about the grand gestures and lavish courting.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026
In addition to Air, the 2023 film about Nike’s courting of a young Michael Jordan, Convery is set to write the screenplay for The Tiger Slam, about Tiger Woods’ run of winning four consecutive major golf tournaments in 2000 and 2001.
—Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 9 Dec. 2025
As the red bird had never been observed courting, it was assumed female.
—Mikelle Street, Them., 4 Dec. 2025
As boundaries shrink and conventions blur, romantic rivalries continue to erupt—as do their possibilities onscreen, from the partner-sharing poignancy of Jules et Jim to the karmic relationships of Sex and the City to the competitive-courting of Challengers.
—John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025
By 1995, the BFC had streamlined the machinery of London Fashion Week and secured government funding for exhibitions, support for young designers, and the courting of overseas buyers.
—Time, 16 Oct. 2025
Instead, through the course of this play, the artificiality of 19th-century marital courting and the exaggerated heroism of war are gradually stripped away, allowing the characters’ true voices, true callings and true partners to eventually emerge.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Oscar Mendoza, Talitha Bullock, Amber Canterbury Wayser says Granada’s visibility could bring new business opportunities, like courting clients to host private events, concerts and art shows from their home.
—Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 15 Feb. 2026
After spending the second half of 2025 (and following the annual report’s release), courting its value chain colleagues, five heavy-hitters joined that ecosystem.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 12 Feb. 2026
Two investment banks, JP Morgan Chase and the Raine Group, are assisting the NBA in courting investors.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Community organizer Rae Huang has been courting the city’s left-leaning voters, appearing with podcaster Hasan Piker in a conversation about housing policy.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
All's fair in love and war — an idiom that Cressida (second from left, played by Jessica Madsen) and her meddling mama would do well to remember while courting the Prince!
—Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
As with many other courting rituals of the Regency era, only a man could ask a woman to dance—not the other way around.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
Nationally, the skin care executive said Macy’s and Dillard’s are specifically courting luxury brands and clients.
—James Manso, Footwear News, 27 Jan. 2026
The West is courting China — the leaders of Canada, Finland, France, and Germany have also either visited recently or will soon — but a former Canadian diplomat jailed by China warned that drawing close to an authoritarian, expansionist Beijing also has risks.
—Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courting
Noun
-
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
Verb
-
Talent agencies last year expressed interest in signing AI actor Tilly Norwood, sparking outrage among Hollywood celebrities yet wooing studios who found Norwood a potentially profitable venture.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
29 Jan. 2026
-
And a whole succession of leaders from countries that are nominally still American allies — Britain, Germany, South Korea — are wooing rather than shunning Beijing to deepen economic cooperation.—
Andreas Kluth,
Twin Cities,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courting. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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