Library / English Dictionary

WOO

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make amorous advances towards

Example:

John is courting Mary

Synonyms:

court; romance; solicit; woo

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "woo" is one way to...):

act; move (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "woo"):

chase; chase after (pursue someone sexually or romantically)

display (attract attention by displaying some body part or posing; of animals)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot woo Sue

Derivation:

wooer (a man who courts a woman)

wooing (a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Seek someone's favor

Example:

China is wooing Russia

Synonyms:

court; woo

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

wooer (a man who courts a woman)

Credits

 Context examples: 

His first wooing had been of the tempestuous order, and he looked back upon it as if through a long vista of years with a feeling of compassion blended with regret.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

As I passed the well-remembered door, which must always be associated in my mind with my wooing, and with the dark incidents of the Study in Scarlet, I was seized with a keen desire to see Holmes again, and to know how he was employing his extraordinary powers.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But, to be brief over the matter, my father would have none of his wooing, nor in sooth would I. On that he swore a vow against us, and as he is known to be a perilous man, with many outlaws and others at his back, my father forbade that I should hawk or hunt in any part of the wood to the north of the Christchurch road.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

At length a man came from a distance and wooed her, who was called Hans; but he stipulated that Clever Elsie should be really smart.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

Tongue-tied by inexperience and by excess of ardor, wooing unwittingly and awkwardly, Martin continued his approach by contact.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He couldn't have got himself up with more care if he'd been going a-wooing, said Jo to herself, and then a sudden thought born of the words made her blush so dreadfully that she had to drop her ball, and go down after it to hide her face.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

'Twere as easy to woo the snow-dame that we shaped last winter in our castle yard. I did but ask her yesternight for her green veil, that I might bear it as a token or lambrequin upon my helm; but she flashed out at me that she kept it for a better man, and then all in a breath asked pardon for that she had spoke so rudely. Yet she would not take back the words either, nor would she grant the veil. Has it seemed to thee, Alleyne, that she loves any one?

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Laurie enjoyed that immensely, and when she told about the prim old gentleman who came once to woo Aunt March, and in the middle of a fine speech, how Poll had tweaked his wig off to his great dismay, the boy lay back and laughed till the tears ran down his cheeks, and a maid popped her head in to see what was the matter.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)