woo
Americanverb (used with object)
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to seek the favor, affection, or love of, especially with a view to marriage.
-
to seek to win.
to woo fame.
- Synonyms:
- cultivate
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to invite (consequences, whether good or bad) by one's own action; court.
to woo one's own destruction.
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to seek to persuade (a person, group, etc.), as to do something; solicit; importune.
verb (used without object)
-
to seek the affection or love of someone, usually a woman; court.
He was reminded of his youth when he went wooing.
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to solicit favor or approval; entreat.
Further attempts to woo proved useless.
verb
-
to seek the affection, favour, or love of (a woman) with a view to marriage
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(tr) to seek after zealously or hopefully
to woo fame
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(tr) to bring upon oneself (good or evil results) by one's own action
-
(tr) to beg or importune (someone)
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
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.
Magyar promises to tackle corruption, improve the economy and he has sought to woo Hungary's disadvantaged Roma community.
From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026
It was a trade show for consultants and vendors, many of whom viewed it as a prime place to woo potential clients or show off clients to potential donors.
From Slate • Mar. 30, 2026
Even though local representatives of Morgan Stanley and Merrill have tried to woo him, he doesn’t answer their calls.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
"But I have never seen Oli so stressed," he said, noting that this time, unusually, he is going door-to-door to woo voters.
From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026
Tailors, dressmakers, and merchants try to woo her with free gifts for her ladies, or offer pastries and champagne.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Definitions 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.
