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
Following your surgery, keep copies of your treatment plan, consent forms, prescriptions, payment records and aftercare instructions. — Ascend Agency, Sun Sentinel, 12 Nov. 2026 Keep copies of the URLs and record when the material appeared. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2026
Verb
Fortunately, Ryan copied and pasted the tweet and emailed it to my workplace address. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Nov. 2026 Modern life accomplishes this with complex biochemicals such as DNA and RNA, which can encode and copy information in their sequences. — Perri Thaler, Quanta Magazine, 10 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for copy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copy
Noun
  • Most of it centered on a life-size reproduction of part of the clock tower on the roof of Wako, a department store in the tony Tokyo neighborhood of Ginza, scarred by a kaiju attack.
    — Matt Alt, New Yorker, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Last month, Hermès approached him to create a miniature wooden reproduction of the flagship store at its historic Paris location.
    — Angela Yang, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Photography freed painters from the obligation to reproduce the visible world.
    — Ben Feder, Fortune, 10 Nov. 2026
  • But the actor eventually abandoned the idea of simply reproducing De Gaulle’s mannerisms.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Watch for misspelled domains or websites that imitate official government branding.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Nov. 2026
  • The emulator is a piece of software that imitates a Game Boy.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 11 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
  • Like entertainers of the year to this day want to emulate Garth Brooks and all of his concerts.
    — Rashad Alexander November 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Employed outside, a stylish bar cart can give a dinner party some polish or emulate a poolside butler.
    — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 6 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • He’s charged with two counts of leaving the scene of an accident, failure to render aid, and failure to obey a traffic control signal.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Ryan faces six misdemeanor charges, including leaving the scene and failing to render aid.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The region’s agricultural resilience, the food community’s innate ability to adapt, pivot and survive, would repeat itself more than a century later during the COVID-19 pandemic, but first came a shift toward commercial production.
    — Amy Drew Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Harbor Teacher Prep sophomore Layla Phillips repeats as the Los Angeles City Section girls’ golf champion.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Copy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copy. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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