To manage or deal with a difficult situation, problem, or emotion, often with some degree of difficulty.
To manage a hard situation or problem without giving up.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "cope with" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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