woo

/wuː/ (bre, ipa) · /wuː/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwü/ (ame, mw)

woo — 動詞

  • woopresent simple I / you / we / they
  • wooshe / she / it
  • wooedpast simple
  • wooing-ing form

1. to attempt to win the backing, custom, or approval of a person or group, often b

1.動詞及物B2
釋義

爭取；拉攏

設法獲得支持或生意

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.

例句

The car company wooed young drivers with a free music streaming subscription.

這家汽車公司用免費的音樂串流訂閱來爭取年輕駕駛。

woo + target + with + incentive

Nora's small design firm was wooed by a larger agency looking for fresh talent.

Nora 的小型設計公司被一家尋找新人才的大型代理商拉攏。

passive: be wooed by [organisation]

同義詞
  • 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

反義詞
  • 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

❌The company wooed a big contract from the client.
✅The company wooed the client with a better offer.
💡'woo' takes the person or group you are trying to persuade, not the thing you want to obtain.

2. to pay romantic attention to someone with the aim of marrying them or starting a

2.動詞及物B2
釋義

追求；求愛

以結婚為前提追求某人

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.

例句

Faisal wooed his wife with handwritten letters and long walks along the river.

Faisal 用手寫情書和沿河散步來追求他的妻子。

woo + person + with + romantic gesture

In the nineteenth century, a man wooed a woman by visiting her family's home.

在十九世紀，男子透過到女方家中拜訪來追求她。

historical register, formal context

同義詞
  • court

    formal; the most direct synonym, also somewhat old-fashioned

  • pursue

    more modern and neutral; does not necessarily imply marriage

  • romance

    emphasises romantic gestures and charm

  • chase

    informal; sometimes implies persistence or eagerness

反義詞
  • reject

    to refuse someone's romantic advances

  • spurn

    formal; to reject with scorn or disdain

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.

常見錯誤

❌He wooed her and she said yes immediately.
✅He wooed her for months before she agreed to marry him.
💡'woo' describes the ongoing process of courtship, not the moment of acceptance.