cope with
To manage a hard situation or problem without giving up.
Meanings
To manage an emotionally difficult situation, such as grief, loss, or stress.
"She found it very hard to cope with the death of her father."
"I had learned to cope with a lot of things."
— Maya Angelou, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' (1969)
To manage a demanding or difficult practical situation without being overwhelmed.
"The new teacher was struggling to cope with thirty students in one class."
To be able to handle or manage a situation adequately (often used in questions or negatives).
"Can you cope with the extra responsibilities while I'm away?"
One of the most important and frequently tested phrasal verbs for B1–B2 learners. Always followed by 'with.' Can refer to emotional challenges (grief, stress, anxiety) or practical ones (workload, difficult people). Often implies the person is finding things hard but still managing.
Commonly used with
Forms
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Synonyms
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