Seeing vs. Dating: The Benefit of Romantic Labels and Boundaries

thegavoice.com:

I have noticed among many of my peers, Gen Z/Millennial cuspers and older Gen Z alike, that we are hesitant to use the term “dating” when getting to know a new potential partner.

Instead of “dating” I generally hear people use the term “seeing.” This is something that I had never questioned because I intuitively knew what the term meant and used it myself.

But I came to the realization that perhaps it truly is a meaningless word. When you Google “dating definition” the Oxford definition is somewhat unsatisfactory, simply stating, to “go out with (someone in whom one is romantically or sexually interested).” But if you look to the right at the snippet of the Wikepedia dating page, it defines it as:  “…a stage of romantic relationships whereby two people meet socially with the aim of each assessing the other’s suitability as a prospective partner in a future intimate relationship.

It represents a form of courtship, consisting of social activities carried out by the couple, either alone or with others.” I was under the impression that dating is more of a serious term than “seeing” but the above definition is what I thought the term “seeing” meant.