Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense, 3rd person singular presenttense copes, present participle coping, past tense, past participle coped
1. verb
If you copewith a problem or task, you deal with it successfully.
It was amazing how my mother coped with bringing up eight children. [VERB + with]
The problems were an annoyance, but we managed to cope. [VERB]
Synonyms: manage, get by [informal], struggle through, rise to the occasion More Synonyms of cope
2. verb
If you have to cope with an unpleasant situation, you have to accept it or bear it.
Never before has the industry had to cope with war and recession at the same time. [Vwith n/-ing]
She has had to cope with losing all her previous status and money. [VERB + with]
3. verb
If a machine or a system can copewith something, it is large enough or complex enough to deal with it satisfactorily.
New blades have been designed to cope with the effects of dead insects. [VERB + with]
The hospitals do not have enough money to cope with the numbers of patients. [VERBwith noun]
The banks were swamped by compensation claims and were unable to cope . [VERB]
4. countable noun
A cope is a long sleeveless piece of clothing worn by some Christian priests on special occasions.
cope in British English1
(kəʊp)
verb
1. (intransitive; foll bywith)
to contend (against)
2. (intransitive)
to deal successfully with or handle a situation; manage
she coped well with the problem
3. (transitive) archaic
a.
to deal with
b.
to meet in battle
Word origin
C14: from Old French coper to strike, cut, from coup blow; see coup1
cope in British English2
(kəʊp)
noun
1.
a large ceremonial cloak worn at solemn liturgical functions by priests of certain Christian sects
2.
any covering shaped like a cope
verb
3. (transitive)
to dress (someone) in a cope
Word origin
Old English cāp, from Medieval Latin cāpa, from Late Latin cappa hooded cloak; see cap1
cope in British English3
(kəʊp)
verb(transitive)
1.
to provide (a wall) with a coping
2.
to join (two moulded timber members)
noun
3. another name for coping
Word origin
C17: probably from French couper to cut; see cope1
COPE in British English
(kəʊp)
noun acronym for(in South Africa)
Congress of the People: a political party founded in 2008 by dissident members of the ANC
cope in American English1
(koup) (verbcoped, coping)
intransitive verb
1. (usually fol. by with)
to struggle or deal, esp. on fairly even terms or with some degree of success
I will try to cope with his rudeness
2.
to face and deal with responsibilities, problems, or difficulties, esp. successfully or in a calm or adequate manner
After his breakdown he couldn't cope any longer
3. archaic (usually fol. by with)
to come into contact; meet
transitive verb
4. Brit informal
to cope with
5. obsolete
to come into contact with; encounter
Derived forms
copeless
adjective
copelessness
noun
Word origin
[1300–50; ME coupen ‹ AF, OF couper to strike, deriv. of coupcoup1]
cope in American English2
(koup) (verbcoped, coping)
noun
1.
a long mantle, esp. of silk, worn by ecclesiastics over the alb or surplice in processions and on other occasions
2.
any cloaklike or canopylike covering
3.
the sky
4.
a coping
5. Metallurgy
the upper half of a flask
Compare "> drag (sense 33)
transitive verb
6.
to furnish with or as if with a cope or coping
Word origin
[1175–1225; ME ‹ ML cāpa, var. of cappacap1]
cope in American English3
(koup)
transitive verbWord forms: coped, coping
1. Building
a. (usually fol. by in or together)
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
b.
to form (a joint between such members) in this way
c.
to undercut the end of (a molded wooden member) in order to form a coped joint
d.
to cut away (a flange of a metal member) so that it may be joined to another member at an angle
2. Falconry
to clip or dull (the beak or talons of a hawk)
Word origin
[1565–75; ‹ F couper to cut; see cope1]
cope in American English4
(koup)
transitive verbWord forms: coped, coping
Brit
to barter; trade; exchange
Word origin
[1400–50; late ME copen ‹ LG; cf. MD côpen to buy]
Examples of 'cope' in a sentence
cope
He is now in his early twenties and able to cope with life relatively well.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He has coped reasonably well and often thanks me for all my help and support.
The Sun (2016)
What have been her coping mechanisms over this difficult period?
The Sun (2016)
Recent studies have shown that people prone to nostalgia are better at coping with stress.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We try to see how we cope with the situation.
The Sun (2016)
The way we adapted our tactics and coped with the problems was tremendous.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In short, we need to lock fewer people up if the system is to cope.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But we weren't good enough to cope with India.
The Sun (2016)
He's big enough, old enough and been round the block enough to cope.
The Sun (2016)
Spending time with people who enjoy life helps you cope with the difficult ones.
The Sun (2012)
It is simply a coping mechanism to deal with emotional pain and anger.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Sometimes the depressive symptoms are delayed and appear when the sufferers feel they are coping well.
Trickett, Shirley Coming Off Tranquillizers and Sleeping Pills (1991)
Evidence suggests contact with bugs and viruses helps the immune system cope with future attacks.
The Sun (2008)
They have been looking for the enemy so they build up these coping mechanisms.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
My free leaflet on coping with exam stress will help.
The Sun (2006)
They are not old enough to cope with or understand the competitiveness of such shows.
The Sun (2009)
You need financial security and the support of a loving partner to cope with those demands.
The Sun (2014)
We have the experience to cope with this situation.
The Sun (2008)
This is your problem to cope with.
The Sun (2007)
They struggled to cope with the loss.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
My job is to help equip her with the things that can help her cope with life.
The Sun (2015)
As a family we are proud of how our nephew deals and copes with his disability.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It is amazing how well he has coped.
The Sun (2010)
Check the key to find out how your immune system is coping.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley Stay Well This Winter (1989)
His back was therefore not strong enough to cope with stresses and he went into spasm.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The safety system was not good enough to cope.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Stress occurs when you feel you cannot cope with the demands made on you.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They would not have been able to cope with this situation.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They have coped with injury problems that should ease.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
People often ask me about coping with loss.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Another son struggled to cope with life after a serious road accident.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I know now how to deal and cope with it.
The Sun (2013)
Word lists with
cope
coat, Religious clothing
In other languages
cope
British English: cope /kəʊp/ VERB
If you cope with a problem, task, or difficult situation, you deal with it successfully.
She had to cope with losing all her money.
American English: cope
Arabic: يَتَغَلَّبُ عَلَى
Brazilian Portuguese: aguentar
Chinese: 应付
Croatian: nositi se
Czech: zvládnout
Danish: klare
Dutch: het aankunnen
European Spanish: sobrellevar
Finnish: selviytyä
French: surmonter
German: zurechtkommen
Greek: αντιμετωπίζω επιτυχώς
Italian: far fronte
Japanese: うまく対処する
Korean: 대처하다
Norwegian: klare brasene
Polish: poradzić sobie
European Portuguese: aguentar
Romanian: a face față
Russian: справляться
Latin American Spanish: sobrellevar
Swedish: klara av
Thai: รับมือได้
Turkish: başa çıkmak
Ukrainian: долати
Vietnamese: đối phó
Chinese translation of 'cope'
cope
(kəup)
vi
对(對)付 (duìfù)
to cope with sth/with doing sth[problem, situation, task]妥善地处(處)理某事/做某事 (tuǒshàn de chǔlǐ mǒushì/zuò mǒushì)
(verb)
Definition
to tolerate or endure
He coped really well in difficult circumstances.
Synonyms
manage
How did your mother manage when your sister left for university?