woo

American  

[woo] / wu /

verb (used with object)

1. to seek the favor, affection, or love of, especially with a view to marriage.

   Synonyms:

   chase, pursue, court

2. to seek to win.

   to woo fame.

   Synonyms:

   cultivate

3. to invite (consequences, whether good or bad) by one's own action; court.

   to woo one's own destruction.

4. to seek to persuade (a person, group, etc.), as to do something; solicit; importune.

   Synonyms:

   entreat, address, sue, petition

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verb (used without object)

1. to seek the affection or love of someone, usually a woman; court.

   He was reminded of his youth when he went wooing.

2. to solicit favor or approval; entreat.

   Further attempts to woo proved useless.

woo British  

/ wuː /

verb

1. to seek the affection, favour, or love of (a woman) with a view to marriage

2. (tr) to seek after zealously or hopefully

   to woo fame

3. (tr) to bring upon oneself (good or evil results) by one's own action

4. (tr) to beg or importune (someone)

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woo Idioms  

1. see pitch woo.

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Other Word Forms

• unwooed
  adjective
• wooer
  noun
• wooing
  noun
• wooingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of woo

First recorded before 1050; Middle English wowe, Old English wōgian; ultimate origin uncertain

Explanation

When you woo someone, you are being charming because you think that it will make them love you more. You want to win their heart, so you woo them, you flirty dog you. Poetry is a great way to woo someone, because who could resist such beautiful words? Wooing requires a romantic heart and a lot of focused attention on the person you desire. But wooing isn’t always just done for love, and you can woo someone because you want their support, like when a rock band woos a record label to release their album, or wooing your grandmother because you need to borrow some money.

Example Sentences

Mariners starter Bryan Woo gave up that one hit, struck out six and walked one over seven strong innings.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

My editor Michelle Woo also loves this garden.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

"I want to offer my condolences to the family in this very trying time," Placer County Sheriff Wayne Woo said on Wednesday.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

But a birdie on 18 was enough to seal a single-stroke win over Australia's Min Woo Lee and Austria's Sepp Straka, with Scheffler and Tommy Fleetwood a further shot back.

From Barron's • Feb. 15, 2026

Woo is sitting on my chest, staring at me intently.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• cultivate
• pursue
• solicit