Phrasal verb
cope with sth
Definition
phrasal verb. to deal successfully with a difficult situation or a heavy workload.
phrasal verb. to manage or contend with a stressful or challenging situation effectively; often implies maintaining emotional or operational stability under pressure.
Examples
“He finds it hard to cope with the stress of his new job.”
“The local hospital is struggling to cope with the sudden increase in patients during the winter flu season.”
“Psychologists suggest that developing strong social networks is essential for helping people cope with the long-term effects of traumatic life events.”
Examples
simple
“He finds it hard to cope with the stress of his new job.”
contextual
“The local hospital is struggling to cope with the sudden increase in patients during the winter flu season.”
complex
“Psychologists suggest that developing strong social networks is essential for helping people cope with the long-term effects of traumatic life events.”
Usage
usually followed by a noun phrase representing a problem, stressor, or responsibility.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'manage' (more neutral) and 'handle' (more active); 'cope with' often highlights the emotional or psychological effort required to survive a situation.
Pitfall
She is coping the pressure well.
She is coping with the pressure well.
the verb 'cope' requires the preposition 'with' when followed by an object.
Phrasal verb
Particles
with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
cope + with + object