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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

cope.

To deal effectively with something, especially if difficult.

4 characters1 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

verb/ˈkəʊp/UK/ˈkoʊp/US
  1. To deal effectively with something, especially if difficult.

    intransitive
  2. To cut and form a mitred joint in wood or metal.

  3. To clip the beak or talons of a bird.

Where this word comes from

From Middle English coupen, from Old French coper, couper (“to strike, to cut”). The noun use went mainstream around 2020.

noun/ˈkəʊp/UK/ˈkoʊp/US
  1. A coping mechanism or self-delusion one clings to in order to endure a hopeless situation.

    slang
Where this word comes from

From Middle English coupen, from Old French coper, couper (“to strike, to cut”). The noun use went mainstream around 2020.

intj/ˈkəʊp/UK/ˈkoʊp/US
  1. An expression of spite towards someone who suffered a setback.

    derogatory
    "The other guy cheated, I had no chance!" "Cope."
  2. A contemptuous dismissal, implying that someone should deal with some problem on their own and that the speaker will not engage any further.

    Internet · derogatory
Where this word comes from

From Middle English coupen, from Old French coper, couper (“to strike, to cut”). The noun use went mainstream around 2020.

noun/ˈkəʊp/UK/ˈkoʊp/US
  1. A long, loose cloak worn by a priest, deacon, or bishop when presiding over a ceremony other than the Mass.

    derogatory
  2. Any covering such as a canopy or a mantle.

    derogatory
  3. The vault or canopy of the skies, heavens etc.

    derogatory · literary
  4. A covering piece on top of a wall exposed to the weather, usually made of metal, masonry, or stone, and sloped to carry off water.

    derogatory
  5. The top part of a sand casting mold.

    derogatory
  6. An ancient tribute due to the lord of the soil, out of the lead mines in Derbyshire, England.

    derogatory
Where this word comes from

From Middle English cope, from Medieval Latin cāpa (“cape”) Doublet of cap, cape, and chape.

verb/ˈkəʊp/UK/ˈkoʊp/US
  1. To cover (a joint or structure) with coping.

    derogatory · transitive
  2. To form a cope or arch; to arch or bend; to bow.

    derogatory · intransitive
Where this word comes from

From Middle English cope, from Medieval Latin cāpa (“cape”) Doublet of cap, cape, and chape.

verb/ˈkəʊp/UK/ˈkoʊp/US
  1. To bargain for; to buy.

    derogatory · obsolete
  2. To exchange or barter.

    derogatory · obsolete
  3. To make return for; to requite; to repay.

    derogatory · obsolete
  4. To match oneself against; to meet; to encounter.

    derogatory · obsolete
  5. To encounter; to meet; to have to do with.

    derogatory · obsolete
Where this word comes from

From Middle English copen, borrowed from Middle Dutch copen. Cognate with Dutch kopen, German kaufen.

verb/ˈkəʊp/UK/ˈkoʊp/US
  1. To tie or sew up the mouth of a ferret used for hunting rabbits.

    derogatory · dialectal · obsolete
  2. To silence or prevent from speaking.

    derogatory · figuratively · obsolete
Where this word comes from

Unknown

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.