Speed dating - meaning and definition
Definition
An organised event where single people have a series of short, timed conversations with potential partners, then indicate who they would like to see again.
At a glance
- Short, timed conversations with several potential partners.
- Contact details are usually shared only after a mutual match.
- Popular with people tired of dating apps.
- Events are often organised by age, orientation or interest.
In detail
At a typical event, each conversation lasts a few minutes before a bell rings and people move on. Afterwards, participants mark who they are interested in, and organisers share contact details only when the interest is mutual.
Speed dating appeals to people who prefer meeting face to face or who are tired of apps. Many events are organised by age group, orientation or shared interest, and some are held online by video.
In a sentence
- I went speed dating for the first time and met three people I would happily see again.
- There is a queer speed dating night at the bookshop on Friday.
Where the word comes from
Usually credited to Rabbi Yaacov Deyo, who organised the first events in Los Angeles in the late 1990s to help Jewish singles meet.
Common questions
How does speed dating work?
You talk to each person for a few minutes, then move on when time is up. At the end you note who you would like to meet again, and the organisers let you know about any mutual matches.