courting

American  

[kawr-ting] / ˈkɔr tɪŋ /

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. (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.

4. 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.

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adjective

1. 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.

2. (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

• uncourting adjective

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

To some that makes courting the old money that much more crucial.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dentists’ complicated financial lives are a challenge for the money managers courting them.

From The Wall Street Journal

Dollar General is growing margins as it modernizes its approach to courting consumers, something that can help it sustain healthy profit growth.

From Barron's

Instead of courting major movie roles, the actor has instead focused his attentions on more independent projects while also building a family with Song, whom he met in 2014.

From MarketWatch

“It means he’s stepping up his pace. Now he’s courting the whole family,” Dad remarked.

From Literature

Related Words

• allure
• appeal
• attractiveness
• interest