adj
courted
Courted (adj) means Pursued romantically; wooed. Example: “She was courted by several suitors before choosing her husband.”
adj
1
Pursued romantically; wooed.
"Millamant, for her part, is conscious of her powerful position as a courted woman, noting that “One's cruelty is one's power; and when one parts with one's cruelty, one parts with one's power.”"
— Edward Behrend-Martínez, A Cultural History of Marriage in the Age of Enlightenment (2021)
"Hannah's next visit to London was in January of the following year, 1776, and this time she was more courted than ever, on account of the success which had attended the publication of Sir Eldred of the Bower and The Bleeding Rock."
— Annette M. B. Meakin, Hannah More: A Biographical Study (1911)
"She was courted by several suitors before choosing her husband."
2
Actively sought after or encouraged, such as attention, favor, or controversy.
"The politician courted controversy with his blunt remarks."
How to use courted
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving been romantically pursued, or having deliberately sought out something like attention or favor.
Common pairings
courted controversy
courted favor
much-courted
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more courted
- Superlative
- most courted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was _____ by several suitors before choosing her husband.
Etymology
Formed from court plus the past-tense ending -ed.
Frequently asked questions
What does “courted” mean?
The word “courted” means pursued romantically; wooed. In plain terms, having been romantically pursued, or having deliberately sought out something like attention or favor.
How do you use “courted” in a sentence?
Here is “courted” used in a sentence: “She was courted by several suitors before choosing her husband.”
What part of speech is “courted”?
“Courted” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “courted” have?
“Courted” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: pursued romantically; wooed.
