date

dateverb

Most senses of date connect something with a particular time; one sense means going out regularly with someone in a loving relationship.

1. write a datewrite the day, month, and year on something such as a letter or a form

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] usually passive [usually passive]

   • Please sign and date the form at the bottom. V + obj
   • The letter was dated the day before she left. usually passive
   • I forgot to date the check. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun date a letter, date a form, date a check

   phrase sign and date something, be dated the same day

2. romantic relationshipgo out regularly with someone because you have a loving relationship with them

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • She's dating a man she met at work. V + obj
   • They dated for two years before they got married.
   • Are those two dating?

   Collocations

   verb + adverb date seriously, date for years

   phrase start dating, stop dating

   Synonyms go out (more informal; go out with someone)

3. find how oldfind out or say how old something is

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • It is hard to date the painting exactly. V + obj
   • Experts dated the house to about two hundred years ago. V + obj + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun date a painting, date a building

   verb + adverb date something accurately, date something exactly

4. come from a timehave existed since a particular time in the past

   Used with from or back (often back to) and a word or phrase that names a time.

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep] not used in continuous tenses [no continuous]

   • The church dates from the twelfth century. V + adv/prep
   • This custom dates back hundreds of years. V + adv/prep
   • Our friendship dates back to our first year at school. V + adv/prep

   Collocations

   verb + preposition date from something, date back to something

   verb + adverb date back

5. seem oldseem old-fashioned, or show that something belongs to an earlier time

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Good design doesn't date.
   • The clothes in the film really date it. V + obj
   • Some of the words in the song have dated badly.

   Collocations

   verb + adverb date badly, date quickly