'Dating' is a form of courtship consisting of social activities done by two
people with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as a partner in an
intimate relationship or as a spouse. While the term has several meanings, it
usually refers to the act of meeting and engaging in some mutually agreed upon
social activity in public, together, as a couple. The protocols and practices of dating, and the terms used to describe it, vary
considerably from country to country. The most common idea is two people trying
out a relationship and exploring whether they're compatible by going out
together in public as a couple, who may or may not yet be having sexual
relations. This period of courtship is sometimes seen as a precursor to
engagement or marriage.
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