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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of courting
Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
During Netflix’s courting process, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said all the right things and won over many inside HBO with the idea that the brand would stay intact and operate as its own quality label, much like FX inside Hulu and Disney.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The courting of crypto He has been courting crypto ever since.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Anthropic is now courting small business owners.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 14 May 2026
There is speculation that Corp has been courting interest from the BBC, which is on the hunt for a new news boss after the departure of Deborah Turness last year.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Senior White House officials and energy advisers have spent months courting major oil companies to increase investments in Venezuela, where production has surged in recent months amid a broader reopening of the sector.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
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, 4 May 2026
But the state is eagerly courting nuclear energy plants and new uranium mines.
—Kirk Siegler, NPR, 2 May 2026
To be sure, FiveFourFive — which in 2025 had sales of 7 million euros — is courting European markets.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Noun
It’s often said that age is just a number, and a new Netflix reality dating series will soon put the old adage to the test by taking age entirely out of the courting equation.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Mar. 2026
During Netflix’s courting process, co-CEO Ted Sarandos said all the right things and won over many inside HBO with the idea that the brand would stay intact and operate as its own quality label, much like FX inside Hulu and Disney.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2026
The courting of crypto He has been courting crypto ever since.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 27 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
One of WorldFirst’s largest offices today is in London, Shi said, evidence the company is courting outbound European SMEs as well as inbound Asian ones.
—Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Anthropic is now courting small business owners.
—Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 14 May 2026
There is speculation that Corp has been courting interest from the BBC, which is on the hunt for a new news boss after the departure of Deborah Turness last year.
—Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 May 2026
Senior White House officials and energy advisers have spent months courting major oil companies to increase investments in Venezuela, where production has surged in recent months amid a broader reopening of the sector.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
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, 4 May 2026
But the state is eagerly courting nuclear energy plants and new uranium mines.
—Kirk Siegler, NPR, 2 May 2026
To be sure, FiveFourFive — which in 2025 had sales of 7 million euros — is courting European markets.
—Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courting
Noun
-
Today’s astrology brings major mental and emotional shake-ups, particularly around dating, creativity, attention and self-expression.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Plus, the problem with modern dating has been discovered.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Venturella spent time in Gary in 2016 wooing the city with cash infusions for its public safety agencies, workforce development and construction assistance for enhancing Airport Road.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
13 May 2026
-
Heath Ledger played Patrick Verona, a rebellious teen with a mysterious past who accepts the challenge of wooing Kat.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Courting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courting. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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