dating
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
Dating is the broadest and most neutral term for the activity of meeting people romantically, used across all ages and contexts. Courtship is much more formal and old-fashioned; it implies a deliberate process aimed at marriage, often involving family involvement and traditional gestures — you would not say 'courtship app' or 'casual courtship'. Seeing someone and going out are informal alternatives that emphasise an ongoing romantic connection rather than the activity of meeting new people. 'They've been seeing each other for two months' suggests exclusivity without commitment labels, while 'going out together' is common among younger speakers and can sound casual or serious depending on context. For example, 'I'm dating around right now' means you are meeting several people, whereas 'I'm seeing someone' clearly implies one person.
Common collocations
Etymology
Dating is the -ing form of the verb date, which entered English from Old French dater (to mark with a date), itself from Latin data, meaning 'given' — referring to the date written on letters and documents ('given on this day...'). The romantic sense of date (and dating) first appeared in late 19th-century America, originally referring to a social appointment. The scientific sense developed in the mid-20th century alongside radiocarbon dating, a technique invented by Willard Libby in 1949.