date
date — noun
1. a specific day shown on a calendar, written as numbers and words for the day, mo
a specific day shown on a calendar, written as numbers and words for the day, month, and sometimes year.
We moved into our new apartment on the same date as Meera's birthday.
The wedding invitation did not include the exact date of the ceremony.
collocation: exact date
Please write today's date at the top of the application form.
Can you remind me what date the library books are due back?
- day
more general; 'day' can mean any day of the week, while 'date' specifies the number
常見錯誤
2. a particular year, especially when it is written as a number.
a particular year, especially when it is written as a number.
The vase on the shelf is from the date 1789 according to the museum label.
Historians cannot agree on the exact date of the ancient king's birth.
Coins often show the date they were made on one side.
The architect carved the building's completion date into the stone wall.
- year
more common for talking about a year alone; 'date' is slightly more formal
用法筆記
In this sense, 'date' refers to a year only, whereas sense 1 refers to a full calendar day including month and day number.
常見錯誤
3. two calendar parts — the month and the year written together — used when no spec
two calendar parts — the month and the year written together — used when no specific day number is given or needed.
Mira graduated in June 2018 and started work the following month.
collocation: in [month] [year]
The letter was marked with the date of November 1952, not a specific day.
Nikos remembers only the date of the party — December 2024 — but not the day.
Can you tell me what date the report covers? It only says March 2023 at the top.
- time period
broader; can refer to any length of time, not just month + year
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 uses only month + year (e.g. 'March 2021'), while sense 1 includes a specific day number (e.g. '15 March 2021').
4. a pre-arranged social outing where two people get together because they have or
a pre-arranged social outing where two people get together because they have or hope for a romantic connection, often sharing a meal or an activity.
Omar asked Linh out on a date to the new Thai restaurant downtown.
collocation: ask someone out on a date
Their first date was at a small coffee shop near the park.
collocation: first date
Lucía was nervous about her blind date because she knew very little about him.
Going on a double date with friends can take the pressure off a little.
- rendezvous
more formal or literary; suggests a secret or carefully planned meeting
- meeting
neutral; does not imply romance
常見錯誤
5. a person who you are having a romantic relationship with and meet socially on a
a person who you are having a romantic relationship with and meet socially on a regular basis.
Yael brought her date to the office holiday party last Friday.
collocation: bring a date
Cyrus told his roommate that his date would arrive at seven o'clock.
I have not met my brother's new date yet, but I hear she is very kind.
When Amani introduced her date to her parents, everyone got along well.
- partner
more neutral and broader; can refer to a long-term romantic partner without specifying gender
用法筆記
In this sense, 'date' refers to the person, not the event. 'Boyfriend' or 'girlfriend' is more common in longer relationships; 'date' is used for newer or more casual partnerships.
常見錯誤
6. a scheduled public performance, especially of music, theatre, or a similar enter
a scheduled public performance, especially of music, theatre, or a similar entertainment event.
The band's date at the jazz club was completely sold out within hours.
collocation: date at [venue]
The singer added a second date in Chicago after the first show sold out.
Jude checked the tour dates online to see if the band was playing nearby.
The theatre announced three new dates for the spring comedy show.
- engagement
more formal; used especially for professional performances
- show
more general; refers to the performance itself rather than its scheduling
用法筆記
Common when a performer or group has multiple scheduled appearances. Often used with modifiers like 'tour date', 'show date', or 'concert date'.
7. a sweet, dark-brown item harvested from certain palm trees and commonly eaten as
a sweet, dark-brown item harvested from certain palm trees and commonly eaten as a dried snack; each piece has one hard seed inside.
Meera added chopped dates to her oatmeal for natural sweetness.
Dried dates are a popular snack in many Middle Eastern countries.
collocation: dried dates
Feng bought a box of fresh dates at the market and shared them with his colleagues.
The recipe calls for dates, almonds, and a little honey blended together.
- date fruit
explicitly distinguishes the fruit from other meanings of 'date'
用法筆記
As an uncountable noun ('date' / 'dates'), it refers to the fruit as a food item. As a countable noun ('a date'), it refers to one individual fruit.
常見錯誤
date — verb
1. to write the current day's date on a letter, check, document, or other written i
to write the current day's date on a letter, check, document, or other written item, usually by hand or with a stamp.
Marco dated the contract before passing it to the client for signature.
Please remember to date all your receipts when you make a purchase.
The letter was dated the first of March but arrived a week later.
Élise forgot to date her cheque, so the bank returned it to her.
- stamp
more specific; implies using a rubber stamp with a date
文法句型
date + noun
be dated + time
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('The application must be dated and signed'). Also used in the past participle form 'dated' as an adjective ('a dated document').
常見錯誤
2. to discover or decide the age of an object or event, especially through scientif
to discover or decide the age of an object or event, especially through scientific methods such as carbon testing or historical analysis.
The archaeologists used carbon testing to date the wooden tools found at the site.
pattern: date + noun + using [method]
Scientists dated the volcanic rock to about five thousand years ago.
pattern: date + noun + to [time]
Researchers at the lab used chemical analysis to date the pottery fragments from the dig site.
The bones were dated using a combination of geological and DNA analysis.
- determine the age of
more formal and explicit about the process
文法句型
date + noun
date + noun + to + time
用法筆記
Common in academic and scientific contexts. The object is usually an object, fossil, rock, or document whose creation time is unknown.
常見錯誤
❌ 'The expert dated the painting from the 1800s.' — This is actually acceptable, but be careful: 'date from' (phrasal verb) can also mean 'originate from,' which overlaps.
3. to go out together with a person on repeated social outings because you share a
to go out together with a person on repeated social outings because you share a romantic interest in each other.
Nala and Jack have been dating for almost two years now.
intransitive: have been dating [duration]
Astrid is dating someone she met at a cooking class last semester.
transitive: date someone
Camila and Joon started dating after working together on a community project.
Linh told her friends she is not ready to date anyone seriously right now.
- go out with
slightly more informal; very common in everyday speech
- see
informal; often implies a less committed relationship
- break up with
the opposite of starting or continuing a dating relationship
文法句型
date + noun
date someone
date each other
用法筆記
When used intransitively ('They are dating'), the relationship is usually known from context. When transitive ('He is dating her'), the object specifies the partner.
常見錯誤
4. to gradually begin to look or seem old-fashioned, so that people no longer consi
to gradually begin to look or seem old-fashioned, so that people no longer consider something modern or stylish.
Science textbooks date quickly because new discoveries are made every year.
adverb: date quickly
Technology like this dates within a few years of its release.
pattern: date within [time]
The design of the building has dated badly compared to newer structures nearby.
Fashion trends date very fast, but classic styles often stay popular.
- become outdated
more formal; emphasizes loss of relevance rather than style
- go out of style
informal; focuses specifically on fashion or trendiness
- stay modern
opposite of becoming dated or old-fashioned
用法筆記
Usually describes objects, styles, technology, or ideas — not people (use 'get old' or 'age' for people). Often used with adverbs like 'quickly' or 'badly'.
常見錯誤
5. to make someone or something look clearly old or from a particular earlier perio
to make someone or something look clearly old or from a particular earlier period, especially through visible signs like style, colour, or wear.
Her old-fashioned hairstyle dates her more than the clothes she wears.
pattern: [feature] dates [person]
The orange carpet and wooden wall panels really date the hotel lobby.
Using slang from twenty years ago can date a writer's dialogue very quickly.
The style of the car's dashboard dates it to the early nineteen-nineties.
- give away one's age
idiomatic; specifically about people revealing how old they are
- keep young
opposite effect; makes something look newer or fresher
文法句型
date + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (DETERMINE AGE). Sense 2 is about using science or research to find an age; sense 5 is about visible features that unintentionally reveal age. The subject is a visible characteristic, not a person doing analysis.