courting 1 of 2

as in dating
the series of social engagements shared by a couple looking to get married after two years of courting, they finally married

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courting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of court
1
as in wooing
to act so as to make (something) more likely you're courting disaster if you keep playing with matches

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2
as in making love
to go on dates that may eventually lead to marriage they courted for a year before getting married

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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 courting
Noun
On the day before the last weekend of the LaLiga season in Spain, where Bellingham currently plays for Real Madrid, Icons became his first memorabilia partner, concluding a three-and-a-half-year courting period. Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 15 July 2026 Some of it was sought-after — Levinson is a provocateur, and his courting of controversy has earned the series nine Emmy wins and far more nominations. Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 31 May 2026 But Armour, who grew up swimming alongside these creatures and works for local outfitter Diving With Giants, is doing his best translation of their cetacean courting calls. Adam Erace, Fortune, 24 May 2026 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
Verb
In spite of this powerful protest, Jelly Roll continued responding to and courting further backlash as his guest-host stint continued. Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Keeping focus on his work is safer territory than courting controversy. Daniel D'addario, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images Republicans in some of this fall’s biggest races are embracing growing backlash to data centers in the hopes of courting voters unhappy with the industry. Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 24 Aug. 2026 In races from Ohio to Wisconsin to Pennsylvania, candidates in both parties are scrambling to distance themselves from data center projects their own leaders spent years courting. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 Rogers is a vehement supporter of Israel himself, and has begun courting the vote of Jewish Democrats who do not want to support el Sayed. Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026 China’s equivalent to YouTube is making a play for the rest of the world and courting non-Chinese creators to boost its appeal. J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026 Like a mass awakening, labels and executives began courting them, making offers that were unimaginable just a few years earlier. Morena Duwe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 China's also courting AI talent, and has low electricity costs. Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for courting
Noun
  • Andie, as research for an article about modern dating, seduces Benjamin and then transforms herself into the girlfriend from hell.
    Jack Dunn, Variety, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The manosphere has infiltrated every aspect of our society—social media and content creators, dating, politics, businesses.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Tennessee has been wooing Paramount, and Ellison’s father, Larry Ellison, had moved his software behemoth Oracle to Nashville two years ago.
    Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026
  • That its partner is the US military, rather than the big tech companies its peers have been wooing, captures a shift inside the private equity firm under CEO Harvey Schwartz, who has pivoted Carlyle back to its roots in the nation’s capital.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Courting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courting. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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