copy
Americannoun
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copies
plural
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an imitation, reproduction, or transcript of an original.
a copy of a famous painting.
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one of the various examples or specimens of the same book, engraving, or the like.
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written matter intended to be reproduced in printed form.
The editor sent the copy for the next issue to the printer.
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the text of a news story, advertisement, television commercial, etc., as distinguished from related visual material.
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the newsworthiness of a person, thing, or event (often preceded by good orbad ).
The president is always good copy.
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Computers. an exact duplicate of a file, program, etc..
Keep a backup copy of the document.
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Genetics. replication.
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Printing. pictures and artwork prepared for reproduction.
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British Informal. (in schools) a composition; a written assignment.
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British. a size of drawing or writing paper, 16 × 20 inches (40 × 50 centimeters).
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Archaic. something that is to be reproduced; an example or pattern, as of penmanship to be copied by a pupil.
verb (used with object)
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copies,
present (3rd person singular)
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copied,
past participle, past
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copying
present participle
-
to make a copy of; transcribe; reproduce.
to copy a set of figures from a book.
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to receive and understand (a radio message or its sender).
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to follow as a pattern or model; imitate.
- Antonyms:
- originate
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Computers. to make an exact duplicate of (a file, selected text, etc.) and store in another location or in temporary memory.
Can I copy the program to another computer? Copy the selected paragraph to the clipboard.
verb (used without object)
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copies,
present (3rd person singular)
-
copied,
past participle, past
-
copying
present participle
-
to make a copy or copies.
-
to undergo copying.
It copied poorly.
I can't install the program—one file won't copy.
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to hear or receive a radio message, as over a CB radio.
Do you copy?
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Newfoundland. Also to leap from one ice pan to another across open water.
idioms
noun
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an imitation or reproduction of an original
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a single specimen of something that occurs in a multiple edition, such as a book, article, etc
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matter to be reproduced in print
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written matter or text as distinct from graphic material in books, newspapers, etc
-
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the words used to present a promotional message in an advertisement
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informal journalism suitable material for an article or story
disasters are always good copy
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archaic a model to be copied, esp an example of penmanship
verb
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to make a copy or reproduction of (an original)
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(tr) to imitate as a model
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(intr) to imitate unfairly
Synonym Usage
See imitate.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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copysimple
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copiessimple
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have copiedperfect
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has copiedperfect
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am copyingprogressive
-
are copyingprogressive
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is copyingprogressive
-
have been copyingperfect progressive
-
has been copyingperfect progressive
Past
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copiedsimple
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had copiedperfect
-
was copyingprogressive
-
were copyingprogressive
-
had been copyingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of copy
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English copie (from Anglo-French ) from Medieval Latin cōpia “abundance, something copied,” Latin: “wealth, abundance”; see copious; copy ( def. 18 ) originally a children's game, from the phrase copy the leader
Explanation
A copy is a reproduction of something — it looks identical to the original. You might ask your sister to make a copy of your nephew's adorable painting so you can hang it on your fridge. You can use the word copy in several different ways. Your doctor's office may keep a copy of your insurance card on file, and they may copy it again every year. This verb form of copy means "to replicate or reproduce." You can also copy down what your teacher says in class — in this case, you're not making an identical copy, but writing the basic ideas. The Medieval Latin root, copia, "reproduction or transcript," comes from the Latin word copia, "plenty."
Vocabulary lists containing copy
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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.
See Examples For:
Anthropic could spend as much as $750 billion on AI compute capacity in the coming years, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited a copy of its draft IPO prospectus.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026
A compounded GLP-1 is made when a pharmacy formulates a custom-made version or copy of the drug.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
A now-removed blog post written by one civil servant about their placements showed a secondee describing how they had drafted copy for the news website.
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
The letter states Omar and her lawyers weren’t given a copy of the warrant prior to the search, as had been required by the judge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
The copy was twice the original size of the photo.
From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene
He suggests saving copies of a lease agreement and any evidence you actually paid the rent, like a receipt or cancelled check.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 24, 2026
“About fifty people came and talked to me, and bought copies ‘In the Country of Women,’ my memoir published by Catapult, and ‘Sacrament,’ my latest novel, published by Counterpoint.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Early in the opera, otherworldly figures arrive to urge the ghosts to cross over, with multiple copies of each one’s tempter.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
Waterstones confirmed to the BBC that Faber had advised there were no restrictions on booksellers keeping their current copies on the shelves.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
“You should get the comic back from Jasmine and make copies and sell it.”
From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender
“Then we freaking copied it and watched it like a thousand times.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026
These real-money portfolios — tracked via public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, disclosures and linked accounts — can be copied for a $9.99 monthly subscription fee.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
He then sent the copied images back to his personal device before deleting them from his work phone.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
The process begins when a section of DNA is copied into messenger RNA, a molecule that carries genetic instructions to the cell's protein-producing machinery.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
And nothing was more galling to my uncle than finding me outside, sitting cross-legged on a grass mat, studying and writing my letters, which I copied from the Qur’an.
From "Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina" by Michaela DePrince
Highlighting worries about the technology, Smith pointed to a recent Anthropic report suggesting small AI models may be only months away from behaving like computer worms, copying themselves from one internet-connected device to the next.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
But in the 1800s, no one could make a YouTube video accusing another creator of copying their slipper pattern, or debate English vs.
From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2026
At times, the standing area closest to the stage resembled an Indian wedding, with fans copying Dosanjh's impressive moves.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
“We can’t just unplug it because it could be copying itself over to other computers,” he told CBS News.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
Maria learned how to paint by copying images of her stepfather’s.
From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
