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Synonyms

coping

American  
[koh-ping] / ˈkoʊ pɪŋ /

noun

  1. a finishing or protective course or cap to an exterior masonry wall or the like.

  2. a piece of woodwork having its end shaped to fit together with a molding.

coping British  
/ ˈkəʊpɪŋ /

noun

  1. Also called: cope.  the sloping top course of a wall, usually made of masonry or brick

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of coping

First recorded in 1595–1605; cope 2 + -ing 1

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.

In Babies, Steven often uses humour to deflect from what he is really feeling, a coping mechanism that masks the depth of his grief.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

Even with a brand new location, Target is coping with some of the same old issues.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

For some, a combination of the two coping mechanisms works best.

From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026

"Pasha obviously has used humour as a way of coping with what was happening around him," Borenstein told me.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Psychologists have long observed that when people feel hopelessly stigmatized, a powerful coping strategy—often the only apparent route to self-esteem—is embracing one’s stigmatized identity.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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.