date
High frequency (A1-A2)Neutral to formal (calendar/scientific sense); informal to neutral (romantic/social sense).
Definition
Meaning
A specific day in the calendar or a social meeting arranged with someone.
The fleshy fruit of the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera); to establish the age or period of origin of something.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Polysemous word with distinct but historically related meanings: 'calendar point', 'fruit', 'social meeting', 'to assign a time'. The fruit meaning is a count noun, while the calendar and social meanings can function as count or non-count nouns ('What's the date?' vs. 'We made a date').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Very few. Spelling is identical. The social/romantic meeting sense may be slightly more common in AmE casual conversation. The verb 'to date' (meaning to go on romantic dates) is more consistently used in AmE ('They're dating'); BrE might use 'seeing' or 'going out with' more frequently, though 'dating' is fully understood.
Connotations
Similar connotations across both varieties. The romantic/social 'date' carries the same cultural weight.
Frequency
All core meanings are high-frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[VERB] date [OBJECT] (We must date the document)[VERB] date [OBJECT] [as/from/to DATE] (It dates from the 15th century)[VERB] date [PERSON] (He's dating his colleague)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “past its sell-by date”
- “to date”
- “out of date”
- “up to date”
- “at a later date”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Deadlines, expiry dates, project milestones. ('The delivery date is confirmed.')
Academic
Chronology, historical periodisation, scientific dating methods. ('They used carbon-14 to date the artefact.')
Everyday
Calendar, social plans, romantic meetings. ('What's the date today?' 'I have a date tonight.')
Technical
In computing: a data type for storing calendar information. In archaeology/palaeontology: absolute or relative dating techniques.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The manuscript is difficult to date precisely.
- They've been dating for a few months now.
American English
- Scientists will date the rock samples using new methods.
- Are you dating anyone right now?
adverb
British English
- This letter is dated 12th November 2023.
American English
- The check was dated April 5th.
adjective
British English
- We need up-to-date information.
- The software is sadly out of date.
American English
- Please ensure your records are current and up-to-date.
- His fashion sense is a bit out of date.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Today's date is the 15th of May.
- I like to eat dates.
- Let's meet on that date.
- What's the expiry date on this milk?
- They went on a date to the cinema.
- The historian tried to date the ancient coin.
- The agreement is effective as of the date signed.
- We should set a firm date for the project review.
- His views on management are rather out of date.
- The pottery sherds were dated to the Bronze Age using thermoluminescence.
- Their relationship dated from their university years.
- The report provides a comprehensive analysis to date of the market trends.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A DATE marks a day on the calendar. To remember someone, you might go on a DATE. A sweet fruit, the DATE, can be eaten on a DATE.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A LOCATION (on a timeline). RELATIONSHIPS ARE JOURNEYS (dating as travelling together). FRESHNESS/RELEVANCE IS CURRENT TIME (up-to-date vs. out-of-date).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'date' (calendar day) with 'day' (сутки, день недели).
- Using 'date' to mean 'data' (данные) is a false friend.
- Translating 'to date' only as 'встречаться' (romantically) and missing the meaning 'датировать'.
Common Mistakes
- *What day is today?* (when asking for the calendar date; correct: 'What's the date today?').
- Using 'date' as an uncountable noun for the fruit ('I like date' instead of 'I like dates' or 'I like dates').
- Confusing 'out of date' (expired) with 'outdated' (old-fashioned, but not necessarily expired).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'date' used as a verb meaning 'to go out with romantically'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Day' refers to a 24-hour period or a day of the week (Monday, Tuesday). 'Date' refers to a specific calendar day identified by its number, month, and year (October 26, 2023).
Yes, but it's less common. 'Appointment' or 'meeting' is typical for business/professional contexts. 'Date' for a social meeting implies a degree of informality and friendship (e.g., 'a lunch date with an old friend').
The phrasal verb 'to date' meaning 'up until now' is formal ('To date, we have received 50 applications'). The verb 'to date' meaning 'to go on romantic dates' is informal to neutral.
Literally, it means a food product is past its recommended consumption date. Idiomatically, it describes an idea, trend, or person considered old-fashioned, irrelevant, or no longer effective.
Collections
Part of a collection
Numbers and Time
A1 · 50 words · Numbers, dates, days and expressions of time.
Relationships
B1 · 49 words · Vocabulary for interpersonal and social connections.