Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

coping

American  
[koh-ping] / ˈkoʊ pɪŋ /

noun

  1. a finishing or protective course or cap to an exterior masonry wall or the like.

  2. a piece of woodwork having its end shaped to fit together with a molding.

coping British  
/ ˈkəʊpɪŋ /

noun

  1. Also called: cope.  the sloping top course of a wall, usually made of masonry or brick

"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

Etymology

Origin of coping

First recorded in 1595–1605; cope 2 + -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"I think this is a pretty common coping mechanism for a lot of people" to return to shows they enjoyed in their youth, Kaur said.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

The readings matter more than usual as they will show how businesses are coping with higher input costs driven by the conflict in the Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

She has since stopped taking the medication and said she had built up an "arsenal" of other coping strategies.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Even with a brand new location, Target is coping with some of the same old issues.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

The school counselor had called it a "coping mechanism," my way of dealing with the tragedy.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.