date
Pluraldates
Pluraldates
- 1The day, month, and year when something happens, or as written on a letter, coin, or form.
What is the date of your birthday party?
We picked a date for the school trip next month.
UsageWhat's the date? asks for the number and month; What day is it? asks for Monday or Friday.
Similarday
- 2A romantic meeting with someone you like.
They went on a date to a small Italian restaurant.
Our first date was a walk in the park.
UsageSay go on a date with someone.
Similarrendezvous
- 3To go out with someone because you like them in a romantic way.
They dated for a year before they got married.
Do you still date that guy from your math class?
UsageSay date someone (not
incorrect: date withsomeone).Similarsee
- 4To begin or start at a certain time in the past.
This castle dates from the twelfth century.
These traditions date back hundreds of years.
UsageSay a thing dates from or dates back to a time.
Similaroriginate
- 5A planned show by a musician, band, comedian, or theater group, often one stop on a tour.
The band added a second date in Chicago because the first show sold out.
The theater group has dates in five small towns this spring.
UsageOften tour dates: a band adds or cancels dates.
Similarshow, gig, engagement
- 6To write the day, month, and year on a letter or paper.
Please date the form before you sign it.
She dated her letter at the top of the page.
UsageOften dated + a day: a letter dated 3 May.
Note
- 7To find out or say how old something is or when it happened.
Like counting the rings inside a tree to learn how old it is.
Scientists can date old bones by testing them in a lab.
Experts dated the painting to around 1650.
UsageSay date something to a time: dated to 1650.
- 8
- 9A meeting that people plan ahead of time.
Grandma and her friends have a date to play cards every Tuesday.
The old classmates made a date to meet again next summer.
UsageSay make a date to meet, or a lunch date.
Similarappointment, engagement, meeting, rendezvous
Note
Less common meanings
- 10A small, sweet brown fruit with a hard seed inside, from a palm tree.
Like a big, extra-sweet raisin with a seed inside.
He ate a sweet date after dinner.
Dates grow on tall palm trees in hot countries.
- 11To become old-fashioned, or to make something seem old-fashioned.
Like clothes that looked great last year but look old now.
Phone designs date quickly because new models come out every year.
That hairstyle really dates her.
UsageSay something dates well or dates badly, or that song dates you.
Similarage
Note
- 12A tall palm tree that grows sweet brown fruit.
- 13
- 14The end or finishing point that something is given.
What Time would spare, from Steel receives its date.
1714, Alexander Pope, “The Rape of the Lock”Here, date means an end, the point where something is finished.Note
- 15The length of time that a person or thing is given to live or last.
Good luck prolonged hath thy date.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie QueeneHere, date means the length of your life, how long you will live.Note
- 16
Showing meanings only.
Practice
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Origins
The word for the fruit came through French from Latin and Greek. The Greek word meant 'finger', because a date looks like a finger.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts
- The English fruit name came through French from Latin and Greek. en.wikipedia.org
- The Greek source word meant 'finger', with the fruit sense associated with resemblance to a finger. en.wiktionary.org
This 'date' came from Latin datus, meaning 'given', from a word meaning 'to give'.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact
- This 'date' derives from Latin datus, meaning 'given', the past participle of dare, meaning 'to give'. en.wiktionary.org