cope

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈkōp 

coped; coping

intransitive verb

1

a

: to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties

—often used with with

learning to cope with the demands of her schedule

b

: to maintain a contest or combat usually on even terms or with success

—used with with

2

archaic : meet, encounter

3

obsolete : strike, fight

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to meet in combat

2

obsolete : to come in contact with

3

obsolete : match

cope

2 of 4

noun

1

: a long enveloping ecclesiastical vestment

The priest wore a cope for the benediction.

2

a

: something resembling a cope (as by concealing or covering)

… the dark sky's starry cope …

—P. B. Shelley

b

: coping

cope

3 of 4

verb (2)

coped; coping

transitive verb

: to cover or furnish with a cope

cope

4 of 4

verb (3)

coped; coping

transitive verb

1

: to shape (a structural member) to fit a coping or conform to the shape of another member

2

: notch

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• do
• fare
• get along
• get by
• get on
• make out
• manage
• shift

Noun

• blanket
• cloak
• cover
• cover-up
• covering
• coverture
• curtain
• hood
• mantle
• mask
• pall
• penumbra
• robe
• shroud
• veil
• wraps

Examples of cope in a Sentence

Verb (1)

a young man learning to cope on his own at college

Noun

committed their nefarious deeds under the dark cope of night

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

With more extreme wildfire events presumably on the horizon, the scientists stressed the importance of equipping doctors with better tools to cope with such circumstances. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 13 Dec. 2024

After being diagnosed in 2004, Etheridge turned to cannabis as a way to cope with the pain, nausea, and emotional toll of her treatment. —Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024

Noun

The set sold 43,000 copes in the U.S. in the week ending June 29, according to Luminate. —Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 3 Sep. 2019

Three years of preparatory work had set the stage for an extraordinary five-hour pageant, as 2,500 Catholic bishops, each vested in white cope and miter, processed into the Vatican basilica. —George Weigel, WSJ, 13 Oct. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English copen, coupen, from Anglo-French couper to strike, cut, from cop, colp blow, from Late Latin colpus, alteration of Latin colaphus, from Greek kolaphos buffet

Noun and Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English -cāp, from Late Latin cappa head covering

Verb (3)

probably from French couper to cut

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (3)

circa 1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cope

1 of 2 noun

ˈkōp 

: a long vestment that is worn like a cape by a priest or bishop

cope

2 of 2 verb

coped; coping

: to struggle or try to manage especially with some success

cope with a situation

Etymology

Noun

Old English -cap "long vestment, cope," from Latin cappa "head covering" — related to cape entry 2

Verb

from earlier cope "to strike, fight, engage in a struggle," from Middle English copen "to strike, fight," from early French couper "to strike, cut," from earlier cop "a blow" — related to coup, coupon

Medical Definition

cope

1 of 2 intransitive verb

ˈkōp 

coped; coping

: to deal with and attempt to overcome problems and difficulties

—usually used with with

helping children cope with grief

COPE

2 of 2 abbreviation

chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema