woo
woo
Woo (verb) means to try to win someone's affection, love, or support. Example: “The new cafe tried to woo local customers with free samples.”
verb
1
To try to win someone's affection, love, or support.
"The new cafe tried to woo local customers with free samples."
"They're trying to woo the customers back with this new mobile plan."
"Behind this carefully crafted strategy of wooing Trump is a desire from Gulf states to solidify and formalize their positions as the US’ indispensable security and economic partners, and extract as much benefit for themselves as they can."
— Nadeen Ebrahim and Abbas Al Lawati, Trump is visiting three of the world’s richest nations. Here’s what’s on their wish list (2025)
"He spent months trying to woo her with flowers and letters."
"The company wooed top engineers with huge signing bonuses."
How to use woo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo actively try to charm or persuade someone — romantically, or more broadly to win them over.
Common mistake
Not the same as the interjection "woo!" (an exclamation of excitement) — this "woo" is a verb about courting or persuading.
Common pairings
woo voters
woo investors
woo a partner
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- woos
- Past tense
- wooed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The new cafe tried to _____ local customers with free samples.
Etymology
From Old English wogian, "to woo or court," of uncertain deeper origin.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for woo
See all rhymes for woo →Frequently asked questions
What does “woo” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “woo”?
“Woo” is pronounced woo (/wuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “woo” in a sentence?
Here is “woo” used in a sentence: “He spent months trying to woo her with flowers and letters.”
What is another word for “woo”?
Words with a similar meaning to “woo” include address, beau, bedear, chase after, endear and make a move (on).
What part of speech is “woo”?
“Woo” is a verb.
Where does the word “woo” come from?
The word “woo” comes from Old English. From Old English wogian, "to woo or court," of uncertain deeper origin.
Is “woo” a common word?
“Woo” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
What is the difference between woo and court?
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.
Can woo be used in business or politics, not just romance?
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.
Is woo a formal or informal word?
'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.
What preposition is used with woo?
'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.'
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