woo

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

Synonyms

• ask (for)
• court
• flirt (with)
• invite

Examples of woo in a Sentence

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

But the film shares a dark sense of humor with Billy Wilder's Irma La Douce, in which Jack Lemmon's disgraced cop, Nestor, disguises himself as wealthy Englishman Lord X to woo prostitute Irma La Douce (Shirley MacLaine). —Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2025

Columbus software startups have a new local angel investment fund to woo. —Andrew King, Axios, 26 Feb. 2025

Many of these employees have abundant options in the private sector and will be difficult to woo back. —Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

Fernández says Tajín, which has been licensed by brands ranging from Taco Bell to Hellman’s mayonnaise, has been wooed by Nestlé, ConAgra, Unilever and Kraft. —Chloe Sorvino, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English wowen, from Old English wōgian

First Known Use

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