cope
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to struggle or deal, especially on fairly even terms or with some degree of success (usually followed bywith ).
The new heating and cooling system can cope with extremes of temperature much better than the old one.
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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.
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Archaic. to come into contact; meet (usually followed bywith ).
verb (used with object)
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British Informal. to cope with.
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Obsolete. to come into contact with; encounter.
noun
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a long mantle, especially of silk, worn by ecclesiastics over the alb or surplice in processions and on other occasions.
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any cloaklike or canopylike covering.
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the sky.
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a coping on a wall.
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Metallurgy. the upper half of a flask.
verb (used with object)
verb (used with object)
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Building Trades.
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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 ortogether ).
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to form (a joint between such members) in this way.
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to undercut the end of (a molded wooden member) in order to form a coped joint.
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to cut away (a flange of a metal member) so that it may be joined to another member at an angle.
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Falconry. to clip or dull (the beak or talons of a hawk).
verb (used with object)
verb
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to contend (against)
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(intr) to deal successfully with or handle a situation; manage
she coped well with the problem
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archaic (tr)
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to deal with
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to meet in battle
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noun
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a large ceremonial cloak worn at solemn liturgical functions by priests of certain Christian sects
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any covering shaped like a cope
verb
verb
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to provide (a wall) with a coping
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to join (two moulded timber members)
noun
acronym
Other Word Forms
- copeless adjective
- copelessness noun
Etymology
Origin of cope1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English coupen, from Anglo-French, Old French couper “to strike,” derivative of coup “a blow”; coup 1
Origin of cope2
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Medieval Latin cāpa, variant of cappa “hooded cloak”; cap 1
Origin of cope3
First recorded in 1565–75; from French couper “to cut”; cope 1
Origin of cope4
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English copen, from Low German; compare Middle Dutch côpen “to buy”
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.
Despite some species being naturally resilient to wet winters, rescue groups said repeated storms and saturated ground were overwhelming animals' ability to cope.
From BBC
The deceleration was driven largely by a 9.2% plunge in energy prices after the government rolled out subsidies to help households cope with rising living costs.
Some also make that claim about laughter, although “Scrubs” proves humor to be more of a coping tool than a cure.
From Salon
I truly believe agility and openness to change—people that can cope with change and adapt quickly—those will be the central skills I want my teenager to have.
“Our armed forces are fully ready to cope with any circumstances,” Kim Jong Un said.
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.
