courting
Americannoun
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the act or process of trying to win the favor or attention of a person or group.
He seems to understand the importance of social issues for youth, judging by his recent courting of young people to bring them into Russian politics.
-
the act of seeking or cultivating someone’s love or affection; wooing.
Soon after landing the job, he stepped up his courting of the beautiful Dorothy, who was also being pursued by someone else.
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(of animals) the act or process of attempting to attract a mate by engaging in certain species-specific behaviors.
The chilly air blowing through the cracks in the wall, and the audible courting of peeper frogs, made it hard to doze off.
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the act of behaving in such a manner as to cause or lead to a specified result.
In a particularly nerve-wracking courting of disaster, he climbed the mountain alone in winter using a completely untried route.
adjective
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seeking or cultivating the love or affection of another person or of each other.
Covered bridges were known as "kissing bridges," as courting couples were prone to stop and steal a kiss while hidden from view inside.
-
(of animals) attempting to attract a mate.
Courting petrels make a henlike clucking and thrust their heads back as far as they can.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of courting
First recorded in 1575–85; court ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses; court ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They are expanding their ambition beyond what has already been proven — the mayor’s office, seats in Congress — and running difficult races in difficult states, courting voters and challenging the institutional status quo.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
But the former Fox News host has also staked his chances of becoming California’s next governor on courting Latinos with a gospel of affordability, lower taxes and the California Dream.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
Appreciate a music legend’s legacy: Dolly Parton got her start in Nashville as a country star, but she cemented her status as a global icon by courting pop fans.
From Slate ● Sep. 24, 2026
When it comes to courting the EU, Canada appears to some to be even keener than one of the bloc's closest neighbours.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
“I don’t think he really even cares about the meeting. He just wants to see Stocktender’s widow. He’s courting her.”
From "Messenger" by Lois Lowry
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
