Dating-app slang & abbreviations

Dating Sunday

Alsobusiest day for dating appsnew year dating rush

Definition

The first Sunday of January, which dating apps describe as the busiest day of the year for new sign-ups, matches and messages.

At a glance

  • The first Sunday of January.
  • Described by dating apps as their busiest day of the year.
  • Driven by New Year resolutions, reflection and free time.
  • A popular moment to update a dating profile.

In detail

After the holidays, many people make resolutions, reflect on their love life or feel lonely after seasonal gatherings, and the first Sunday of the year combines all of this with free time at home. Dating apps have reported spikes in activity on that day, and the name Dating Sunday has become a fixture of January dating coverage.

For users, it can mean more new profiles and more conversations than usual, but also more competition and more people who are only browsing. Many people use the date as a reason to refresh their profile photos and prompts.

In a sentence

  • Updating my profile before Dating Sunday so I'm ready for the rush.
  • I matched with more people on Dating Sunday than in all of December.

Where the word comes from

Popularised by dating apps in the 2010s, which began publicising the activity spike on the first Sunday of January.

Not to be confused with

  • Cuffing season

    Cuffing season is a months-long urge to couple up; Dating Sunday is a single high-traffic day on apps.

Common questions

When is Dating Sunday?

It is usually the first Sunday of January, though the exact peak can vary slightly by app and by country.

Is it worth joining a dating app on Dating Sunday?

There are more active users than usual, so it can be a good moment to start. It does not guarantee better matches, and many people find the whole of January busy.

Related terms