woo
woo — verb
1. to attempt to win the backing, custom, or approval of a person or group, often b
to attempt to win the backing, custom, or approval of a person or group, often by presenting something they find attractive — for instance, a candidate wooing voters with policy promises, or a business wooing clients with special offers.
The car company wooed young drivers with a free music streaming subscription.
woo + target + with + incentive
Nora's small design firm was wooed by a larger agency looking for fresh talent.
passive: be wooed by [organisation]
The mayor wooed voters by promising two new parks in the south of the city.
Cyrus wooed the committee by offering to donate the first year's profits to charity.
The tech startup is wooing investors with a prototype faster than any rival product.
- court
more formal; used in similar political, business, or romantic contexts
- cultivate
implies a longer-term, gradual effort to build a relationship
- solicit
more direct and transactional, used especially for donations or votes
- curry favour with
slightly negative connotation of flattery for personal gain
- alienate
to make someone feel unwelcome or opposed to you
- discourage
to make someone less willing to support you
文法句型
woo + target + with + offer/incentive
be wooed + by + agent
用法筆記
Common in business and political contexts. The object is always a person or group whose favour you want; you do not woo an outcome. Frequently paired with a 'with' phrase naming the offer or incentive.
常見錯誤
2. to pay romantic attention to someone with the aim of marrying them or starting a
to pay romantic attention to someone with the aim of marrying them or starting a serious romantic relationship — for example, sending flowers, writing letters, or spending time with them and their family to show sincere interest.
Faisal wooed his wife with handwritten letters and long walks along the river.
woo + person + with + romantic gesture
In the nineteenth century, a man wooed a woman by visiting her family's home.
historical register, formal context
Kian wooed Sari for months before she agreed to go on a date with him.
The novel is about a shy poet who woos a widow through carefully crafted verses.
Andrew wooed Yuki by leaving fresh flowers at her doorstep every morning for a month.
文法句型
woo + person
woo + person + with + romantic gesture
用法筆記
This sense is somewhat old-fashioned in modern everyday English. 'Pursue' or 'date' are more common in casual speech. 'Woo' still appears in literature, historical writing, and formal contexts.