Definition of copynext

copy

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to reproduce
to make an exact likeness of for the movie, set designers copied the Oval Office in the White House down to the smallest detail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to imitate
to use (someone or something) as the model for one's speech, mannerisms, or behavior she shamelessly copies her idol's hairstyle and fashion choices

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun copy differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of copy are duplicate, facsimile, replica, and reproduction. While all these words mean "a thing made to closely resemble another," copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

When might duplicate be a better fit than copy?

While the synonyms duplicate and copy are close in meaning, duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

When would facsimile be a good substitute for copy?

The words facsimile and copy can be used in similar contexts, but facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

Where would replica be a reasonable alternative to copy?

Although the words replica and copy have much in common, replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details, but not always in the same scale.

a replica of the Mayflower
miniature replicas of classic cars

In what contexts can reproduction take the place of copy?

The words reproduction and copy are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of copy
Noun
In recent months, the president has repeatedly spoken about the project, which is expected to be partially funded by taxpayers, according to a copy of a contractor estimate obtained by The Washington Post. — Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2026 Keep your receipt and a copy of the card information in a secure location. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
The lawsuit says Brave crawled and copied content from more than 30 billion webpages in its index without identifying itself or providing the owners of websites any mechanism to block its crawler, according to the newspapers’ complaint. — Molly Crane Newman, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026 The lawsuit says Brave crawled and copied content from more than 30 billion webpages in its index without identifying itself or providing the website owners with any mechanism to block its crawler, according to The News’s complaint. — Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for copy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copy
Noun
  • Black-and-white reproductions of historic expedition photos accent hallways and suites.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Marginal illustrations are found in the reproduction of The Antiquities of the Jews, including a portrait of its author, Josephus, and a depiction of two orbs representing the creation of heaven and earth.
    — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • During the previous internal sprint, engineers used Codex to investigate findings, reproduce vulnerabilities in isolated environments, and prepare patches for review.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
  • APIs allow researchers to automate prompts, standardize experiments, collect responses and large volumes of data, as well as test models at scale, making results easier to compare and reproduce.
    — Katie McQue, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Claude is destined to imitate these human traits and mirror the human examples provided to it, including acting like a colleague or friend.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
  • These are commonly used in things like model aircraft to imitate jet engines.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • Years later, while using a replica, Delciello spotted the 100-year-old original at a farmer’s market.
    — Susan DeGrane, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Its miniature replica captures the grandeur of the iconic flagship, offering collectors a piece of Manhattan holiday history without the Manhattan real estate prices.
    — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • But then labs across the globe tried to replicate the experiment and couldn’t, and an almighty takedown ensued.
    — George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The Ipsos survey and several other polls — if replicated on voting day — indicate that most metropolitan municipalities would require coalition governments after the local elections.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Since then, the aquarium has done its best to minimize disruptions and emulate natural conditions for two clutches whose journey thus far has been anything but routine.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Cohen insists the joke was always on Ali G, not the Black culture the character was so desperately trying to emulate.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Zero, Jack Skellington’s dog, floats on the side of a handbag; the Harlequin Demon is rendered with feathers and leather scales; and Skellington himself is painted as a peekaboo surprise inside a carryall.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Cook, stirring occasionally, until the fat is rendered and the bacon is crisp, about 12 minutes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Woodward Academy and Lovett both repeated as state champions Thursday, and Morgan County defended its title Saturday to mark its fourth championship in five years.
    — Caitlyn Stroh-Page, AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026
  • The model then generated repeating radio-pulse patterns designed to be as different as possible from the surrounding pulsar signals while minimizing energy consumption.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Copy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copy. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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