woo

1 of 2

verb

ˈwü 

wooed; wooing; woos

transitive verb

1

: to sue for the affection of and usually marriage with : court

2

: to solicit or entreat especially with importunity

woo new customers

3

: to seek to gain or bring about

intransitive verb

: to court a woman

wooer noun

wooer

2 of 2

noun

woo·​er

ˈwüə(r), 

ˈwu̇(ə)r, 

ˈwu̇ə

plural -s

: one that woos : suitor, lover

Synonyms of woo

Verb

• invite
• seek

Examples of woo in a Sentence

Verb

The store had a sale in an effort to woo new customers.

The company must find creative ways to woo new employees.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Oklahoma City Thunder employ the NBA’s largest operations staff from the league’s third-smallest market, and woo talent with distinctive offerings like concierge health care for players’ families. — Chris Park, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026

Read more from Daniel on the midterm push to woo MAHA voters, as well as what universal health issue still looms larger than the others. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 7 Oct. 2026

For years now, hotels have been spending more and more on signature fragrances to woo and hook guests. — Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

When asked who might be the greatest thinker in America, the boy immediately suggests Professor Jacob Barnhardt (Sam Jaffe), an Albert Einstein analogue who's wooed by Klaatu's solutions to a particularly tricksy math equation. — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English wowen, from Old English wōgian

Noun

Middle English wowere, from Old English wōgere, from wōgian to woo + -ere -er

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing woo

• woo-hoo
• woo-woo

Rhymes for woo

• blew
• blue
• boo
• brew
• chew
• chou
• clue
• coo
• coup
• crew
• cue
• dew

Kids Definition

woo

verb

ˈwü 

1

: to try to gain the love of : court

2

: to seek to gain or bring about

political candidates wooing public support