speed dating

noun

1. an organized social event in which participants have one-on-one conversations typically limited to less than ten minutes, for the purpose of meeting people they would like to date.

speed dating

noun

1. a method of meeting potential partners in which each participant has only a few minutes to talk to each of his or her dates before being moved on to the next one. At the end of the event, paticipants decide which dates they would like to see again

Derived Forms

• speed dater, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of speed dating¹

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

Speed dating is on the rise in Los Angeles and across the U.S. as daters get fed up with online dating.

From Los Angeles Times

Co-founders Andrea Ramirez and David Greenberg — who have been hosting speed dating events in L.A. through their company, the Next Fun Thing — launched All Hands on Deck in April after seeing a similar event take place in Seattle.

From Los Angeles Times

Thinking about giving speed dating a try?

From Los Angeles Times

There’s more and more attempts by people who are done with the apps to meet in person, even if it’s speed dating, even if it’s meeting in other circumstances, or even if it’s coming to my show.

From Los Angeles Times

Amid this frantic round of diplomatic speed dating, they will have to confront a raft of international challenges, with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, political instability in the US, division in Europe and threats from China.

From BBC