cope

[ kohp ]

/ koʊp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cope ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), coped, cop·ing.

to struggle or deal, especially on fairly even terms or with some degree of success (usually followed by with): I will try to cope with his rudeness.

to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, especially successfully or in a calm or adequate manner: After his breakdown he couldn't cope any longer.

Archaic. to come into contact; meet (usually followed by with).

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing.

British Informal. to cope with.

Obsolete. to come into contact with; encounter.

Nearby words

copartnership, copasetic, copay, copayment, copd, cope, copeck, copehan, copemate, copen, copenhagen

Origin of cope

1300–50; Middle English coupen < Anglo-French, Old French couper to strike, derivative of coup coup¹

SYNONYMS FOR cope

1 wrestle, strive, persevere.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR cope ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formscope·less, adjectivecope·less·ness, noun

Definition for cope (2 of 4)

cope

[ kohp ]

/ koʊp /

noun

a long mantle, especially of silk, worn by ecclesiastics over the alb or surplice in processions and on other occasions.

any cloaklike or canopylike covering.

the sky.

a coping.

Metallurgy. the upper half of a flask.Compare drag(def 32).

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing.

to furnish with or as if with a cope or coping.

Origin of cope

1175–1225; Middle English < Medieval Latin cāpa, variant of cappa cap¹

Definition for cope (3 of 4)

cope

[ kohp ]

/ koʊp /

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing.

Building Trades.

to join (two molded wooden members) by undercutting the end of one of them to the profile of the other so that the joint produced resembles a miter joint (usually followed by in or together).
to form (a joint between such members) in this way.
to undercut the end of (a molded wooden member) in order to form a coped joint.
to cut away (a flange of a metal member) so that it may be joined to another member at an angle.

Falconry. to clip or dull (the beak or talons of a hawk).

Origin of cope

1565–75; < French couper to cut; see cope¹

Definition for cope (4 of 4)

cope

⁴

[ kohp ]

/ koʊp /

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing. British.

to barter; trade; exchange.

Origin of cope

⁴

1400–50; late Middle English copen < Low German; compare Middle Dutch côpen to buy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cope

Stephanie Giorgio, a classical musician, credits The Class for helping her cope with anxiety, focus, fear, and self-doubt.
How Taryn Toomey’s ‘The Class’ Became New York’s Latest Fitness Craze|Lizzie Crocker|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Fulkerson, the founder of the magazine who has hired March, is someone he can cope with.
The Novel That Foretold the TNR Meltdown|Nicolaus Mills|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Eric told me about a case with which a fellow lobbyist had to cope.
Up to a Point: In Defense of Lobbyists|P. J. O’Rourke|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Child workers, even when they are brought back into the classroom, are unable to cope without proper bridge courses.
Stopping the Small Hands of Slavery|Meenakshi Ganguly|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In an effort to cope with the implications of this question, Americans have subtly but sweepingly shifted their ideals.
How Young People Are Destroying Liberty|James Poulos|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They started in an almost hopeless pursuit, for the speed of an Indian in the woods is hard to cope with.
Some Three Hundred Years Ago|Edith Gilman Brewster
Cope′-stone, Cop′ing-stone, the stone which copes or tops a wall; Cop′ing, the covering course of masonry of a wall.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
But now it seemed as though nothing could cope with the fearful increase of the mortality.
The Sign Of The Red Cross|Evelyn Everett-Green
I could cope with her better when she showed me her true nature.
Great Porter Square, v. 3|Benjamin Leopold Farjeon
The second course they met without any hurt doygne; and the third course their horses refused and wolde not cope.
Scenes and Characters of the Middle Ages|Edward Lewes Cutts

British Dictionary definitions for cope (1 of 4)

cope

/ (kəʊp) /

verb

(intr foll by with) to contend (against)

(intr) to deal successfully with or handle a situation; manageshe coped well with the problem

(tr) archaic

to deal with
to meet in battle

Word Origin for cope

C14: from Old French coper to strike, cut, from coup blow; see coup 1

British Dictionary definitions for cope (2 of 4)

cope

/ (kəʊp) /

noun

a large ceremonial cloak worn at solemn liturgical functions by priests of certain Christian sects

any covering shaped like a cope

verb

(tr) to dress (someone) in a cope

Word Origin for cope

Old English cāp, from Medieval Latin cāpa, from Late Latin cappa hooded cloak; see cap

British Dictionary definitions for cope (3 of 4)

cope

/ (kəʊp) /

verb (tr)

to provide (a wall) with a coping

to join (two moulded timber members)

noun

another name for coping

Word Origin for cope

C17: probably from French couper to cut; see cope 1

British Dictionary definitions for cope (4 of 4)

COPE

/ (kəʊp) /

n acronym for (in South Africa)

Congress of the People: a political party founded in 2008 by dissident members of the ANC

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cope

cope

late 14c., "come to blows with," from Old French couper, earlier colper "hit, punch," from colp "a blow" (see coup). Meaning evolved 17c. into "handle successfully," perhaps influenced by obsolete cope "to traffic" (15c.-17c.), a word in North Sea trade, from the Flemish version of the Germanic source of English cheap. Related: Coped; coping.

cope

verb (used without object), coped, cop·ing.

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing.

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Nearby words

Origin of cope

Definition for cope (2 of 4)

cope

noun

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing.

Origin of cope

Definition for cope (3 of 4)

cope

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing.

Origin of cope

Definition for cope (4 of 4)

cope

verb (used with object), coped, cop·ing. British.

Origin of cope

Examples from the Web for cope

British Dictionary definitions for cope (1 of 4)

cope

verb

Word Origin for cope

British Dictionary definitions for cope (2 of 4)

cope

noun

verb

Word Origin for cope

British Dictionary definitions for cope (3 of 4)

cope

verb (tr)

noun

Word Origin for cope

British Dictionary definitions for cope (4 of 4)

COPE

n acronym for (in South Africa)

Word Origin and History for cope

cope

Medicine definitions for cope

cope

v.