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copy

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verb

1
as in to reproduce
to make an exact likeness of for the movie, set designers copied the Oval Office in the White House down to the smallest detail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior she shamelessly copies her idol's hairstyle and fashion choices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun copy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copy are duplicate, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When might duplicate be a better fit than copy?

While the synonyms duplicate and copy are close in meaning, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When would facsimile be a good substitute for copy?

The words facsimile and copy can be used in similar contexts, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to copy?

Although the words replica and copy have much in common, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

In what contexts can reproduction take the place of copy?

The words reproduction and copy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of copy
Noun
Normally, the physical copy of a game is playable right out of the box—or, at most, after downloading patches that are a fraction of the size of the entire game. ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2025 Folklore sold 3,300 copies in the U.S. during the latest tracking span, up 17% from the previous week (per Luminate). Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
Short of a full prohibition, Congress could also look to copy smart reforms from the states, as Judge Glock and Renu Mukherjee have written in a recent Manhattan Institute report. The Editors, National Review, 31 Mar. 2025 Not to be redistributed, copied, or modified in any way. ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for copy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copy
Noun
  • Ryan pointed to a Model T 100, a reproduction done of the Ford Model T done in 2003 for the 100th anniversary of the company.
    Jamie L. LaReau, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Second, how do social groups affect individual survival and reproduction – in other words, what group traits are under selection?
    Conner Philson, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Of those, 15 were meant to reproduce extinct dire wolf gene variants.
    Emily Mullin, Wired News, 7 Apr. 2025
  • This material is not to be reproduced or redistributed absent the written consent of Fairlead Strategies.
    Katie Stockton, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Cubs beat the Dodgers 16-0 on Saturday, featuring an entertaining moment in which position-player-pitching Miguel Rojas imitated the deliveries of a few Dodgers pitchers.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Moreover, these models can imitate individuals' or industries' writing styles and wording.
    Kevin Korte, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Joey Spencer Results, Highlights And Reaction David Bowie’s Double LP The project is being released as a double LP and CD, both of which will come packaged with a replica poster from the original event.
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • When Medina instead lifts his right arm, which held the replica gun, officers open fire, striking Medina multiple times.
    Max Levy, Denver Post, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • He’s had a career season for Sacramento and will need to replicate it for the Kings to return to the postseason.
    Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This groundbreaking robot uses advanced artificial intelligence to replicate natural gestures and deliberate actions with striking accuracy.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOXNews.com, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Gibbs-White will do incredibly well to emulate De Bruyne’s level of production.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Nowhere is this attention to detail more felt than in the production design of the studio itself, which is intended to emulate great legacy companies like Paramount and Warner Bros., the latter of which stands in for the series’ fictional Continental Studios in exterior scenes.
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Today, digital cameras have rendered round-the-clock observations of the night sky both practical and affordable.
    Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 14 Apr. 2025
  • The Alliance would seek to deter and defeat offensive space capabilities, condemn any attempts to render space unusable in international fora, and impose tangible violations that include sanctions—from export controls on the low end to military action on the high end.
    Andrew Hanna, Time, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Encourage interaction by asking your toddler to point at pictures, repeat words, or turn the pages with you.
    Holly Garcia, Parents, 8 Apr. 2025
  • MoCA can involve being asked to repeat five words immediately, and then asked to repeat them again after some time has passed; identifying animals; and drawing the hands on a clock to indicate a certain time.
    Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Copy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copy. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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