woo

The word “woo” means to try to win someone's affection, love, or support. In plain terms, to actively try to charm or persuade someone — romantically, or more broadly to win them over.

“Woo” is pronounced woo (/wuː/ in IPA).

Here is “woo” used in a sentence: “He spent months trying to woo her with flowers and letters.”

Words with a similar meaning to “woo” include address, beau, bedear, chase after, endear and make a move (on).

“Woo” is a verb.

The word “woo” comes from Old English. From Old English wogian, "to woo or court," of uncertain deeper origin.

“Woo” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

Both mean to try to win someone's affection with romantic intent, but 'woo' sounds more old-fashioned or literary, while 'court' can also suggest a more formal, ongoing courtship aimed at marriage. In modern usage, 'woo' is very often used figuratively for winning support, as in wooing voters or customers.

Yes. Beyond romance, 'woo' frequently describes efforts to win support, favour, or custom, as in 'the company wooed investors' or 'candidates wooing voters.' In these senses it means to court favour or actively seek someone's backing rather than romantic love.

'Woo' has an old-fashioned, slightly literary flavour and is rarely used for everyday modern romance. It appears most naturally in journalism and figurative phrases like 'woo customers,' where it reads as lively rather than stuffy.

'Woo' is usually transitive and takes a direct object with no preposition, as in 'he wooed her.' When describing the means or goal, it can pair with 'with' or 'into,' as in 'wooed her with flowers' or 'wooed them into signing.'