close to dating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "close to dating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a relationship that is not officially defined as dating but has romantic elements or intentions. Example: "They've been spending a lot of time together, and it seems like they're close to dating."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

My two daughters aren't even close to dating age yet, but when they are, I plan to tell them they can bring anyone to our house (boy or girl), and I'll do my part to make them feel comfortable and welcomed.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

In choreographic terms, Petit's 1946 encounter between a man and a fatally beautiful siren veers close to dated and mannerism.

The Guardian

More-recent work on radiocarbon dates from Egypt does, however, yield results encouragingly close to dates computed in the manner described above.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Prescriptions filled close to date of death or emigration increase adherence.

BMC Health Services Research

The retrofit will be the nation's largest property assessed clean energy (PACE) project closed to date, according to the project partners.

Forbes

So far, the model is working extremely well, with cumulatively over $2 billion in real estate transactions closed to date on the platform.

Forbes

The earliest available (i.e. closest to date of dialysis initiation), technically adequate chest X-ray was chosen for review.

BMC Nephrology

When more than one diagnosis was recorded for an individual, the one given closest to date of discharge was used.

BMC Psychiatry

This date was close to the date of diagnosis of the cases since cases were interviewed on average within three months of diagnosis.

BMC Cancer

My shopping habits are perilously close to my dating habits.

Huffington Post

Go somewhere public, but close to the date area, and meet your date.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "close to dating" to describe relationships that have romantic undertones but haven't yet evolved into formal dating. This accurately conveys the ambiguous stage between friendship and dating.

Common error

Avoid using "close to dating" when the individuals are already actively dating or are just friends. This phrase indicates a specific transitional phase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "close to dating" functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a state of nearness to the act of dating, but not yet fully engaged in it. This phrase is employed to characterize the stage where individuals are developing romantic interest but haven't formally started dating. Ludwig AI confirms its valid usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "close to dating" effectively describes the transitional phase between friendship and a formal dating relationship. Ludwig's analysis confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for describing relationships that are developing romantic elements without yet being fully defined. While not particularly common, its specific nuance makes it useful in certain contexts, especially where the ambiguity of a developing connection needs to be highlighted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly dating

A more direct synonym, emphasizing the near-dating status.

on the verge of a relationship

Indicates a higher likelihood and imminence of starting a relationship compared to just being "close to dating".

almost in a relationship

Implies that a relationship is highly probable and near to becoming official.

about to start dating

Focuses on the anticipation and expectation of dating soon.

developing feelings for each other

Highlights the emotional aspect that often precedes dating.

exploring a romantic connection

Emphasizes the exploratory phase before a formal relationship.

in the early stages of dating

Suggests they've gone on a few dates but aren't yet committed.

seeing each other casually

Highlights the lack of commitment and formality.

friends with romantic interest

Highlights pre-dating relationship status.

courting each other

Signifies more formal and traditional interaction.

FAQs

How can I use "close to dating" in a sentence?

You can use "close to dating" to describe a situation where two people are developing romantic feelings and spending time together, but haven't officially started dating. For example: "They've been spending a lot of time together and seem "close to dating"."

What's a more formal way to say "close to dating"?

A more formal way to express a similar idea is to say they are "on the verge of a relationship" or "developing a romantic interest in each other".

Is "close to dating" the same as "casually dating"?

No, "casually dating" implies they are already going on dates, whereas ""close to dating"" suggests they are in the phase just before that, where romantic interest is present but not yet acted upon in a formal dating context.

What can I say instead of "close to dating" to emphasize the potential for a relationship?

You could use phrases like "nearly dating", "almost in a relationship", or "on the verge of a relationship" to highlight the likelihood of a relationship forming.