Generally speaking, dating describes a less serious level of commitment before either person is ready to describe the other as a girlfriend or boyfriend. This is not a firm rule because the terms have no strict definition.

How long is dating before a relationship?

Americans tend to say the earliest a person should say this to their partner is when theyve been dating for one to three months (19%), or perhaps even longer, four to six months (18%). Fewer think the earliest appropriate time to say it is seven to nine months in (6%) or 10 to 12 months into the relationship (7%).