speed dating: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal to neutral; common in lifestyle, social, and business contexts.
Quick answer
What does “speed dating” mean?
An organized social event where individuals meet and have brief, timed conversations with multiple potential romantic partners.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An organized social event where individuals meet and have brief, timed conversations with multiple potential romantic partners.
Any process or event involving rapid, successive meetings or assessments, often used metaphorically in business (e.g., speed networking), academia, or pitching sessions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the term identically. The concept is equally established in both cultures.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with urban, professional environments. Can carry a lighthearted or pragmatic connotation.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “speed dating” in a Sentence
participate in speed datinggo to speed datingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “speed dating” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company speed-dates candidates in a first-round assessment centre.
American English
- Startups will speed-date potential investors at the pitch event.
adjective
British English
- They used a speed-dating format for the conference workshops.
American English
- The speed-dating model was applied to the job fair.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for 'speed networking' events where professionals make quick contacts.
Academic
Used to describe formats for brief student presentations or peer feedback sessions.
Everyday
Refers to the common social activity for meeting potential partners.
Technical
Not typically used in highly technical fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “speed dating”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “speed dating”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speed dating”
- Using as a verb (*'We speed-dated yesterday' is informal/rare). Treating it as an uncountable noun (*'a speed dating').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, while it has a lighthearted image, it is a recognized and structured social activity taken seriously by many participants and organizers to initiate romantic connections.
Typically between 3 to 8 minutes, after which a signal (like a bell or buzzer) indicates it's time to move to the next person.
Yes, the format is widely applied in business (speed networking), academia, and fundraising, where the core idea of rapid, sequential brief meetings is retained.
It originates from a concept devised by Rabbi Yaacov Deyo in 1999 in Los Angeles, intended to help Jewish singles meet and marry efficiently.
An organized social event where individuals meet and have brief, timed conversations with multiple potential romantic partners.
Speed dating is usually informal to neutral; common in lifestyle, social, and business contexts. in register.
Speed dating: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspiːd ˈdeɪtɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspid ˈdeɪdɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like speed dating for jobs.”
- “The conference had a speed-dating format for researchers.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'speed' (fast) + 'dating' (romantic meetings) = fast romantic meetings.
Conceptual Metaphor
ROMANTIC PURSUIT IS A TIMED EFFICIENCY EXERCISE / FINDING A PARTNER IS A PROCESS OF RAPID SAMPLING.
Practice
Quiz
In which context might 'speed dating' be used metaphorically?