copying

Definition of copyingnext
present participle of copy
1
as in reproducing
to make an exact likeness of for the movie, set designers copied the Oval Office in the White House down to the smallest detail

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2
as in imitating
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

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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 copying This one turns off Gemini in addition to personalized Drive search, copying loyalty cards to Wallet and Calendar event extraction from Gmail. ArsTechnica, 30 Apr. 2026 An aspiring author had sent Hoover their manuscript, also copying a fraudulent email impersonating Hoover on the email chain. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026 In 2024, Yungblud appeared on an episode of The Osbournes podcast and Kelly Osbourne made a comment about MGK copying Yungblud's use of pink. Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026 Ding has become known for his understated reactions and his small wave during introductions, which fans have begun copying at home. Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026 By copying the strut and behavior of real males, the robotic birds are meant to attract younger grouse and encourage them to start a new breeding site in a safer location. Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2026 One of their tactics was to charge record requesters not just for copying costs but for the time workers spent assembling the records. U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026 Donnie is now directing and starring in a movie with his particular style and flair and expertise that isn’t copying anything from the Wick world but is furthering the story of one of the most extraordinary characters to come out of the Wick universe ever. David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Apr. 2026 These moments show students evaluating AI output critically and treating it almost as a sparring partner, rather than simply copying it. Jeanne Beatrix Law, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copying
Verb
  • The polyphenols in cranberries also block viruses from reproducing and stimulate the immune system.
    Cynthia Sass, Health, 27 Apr. 2026
  • After his death in 1993, the hippos escaped and began reproducing in the wild.
    Carlie Procell, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The contest aims to challenge negative stereotypes of seagulls, which are often seen as a nuisance, by imitating them, per local network WTV.
    Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Another potential treatment route the study opens up is using machines to massage cancer cells, imitating the rhythmic beating of the heart.
    Anil Oza, STAT, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Braves wound up in last place that season, and Schuerholz arrived in October as the Braves’ new GM, rendering Cox a full-time manager again.
    Mark Bradley for the AJC, AJC.com, 9 May 2026
  • Instead, the interstellar medium is dominated by gas, and mostly hydrogen gas at that, but in the warmer, more diffuse regions of space, that gas becomes ionized, rendering it into a plasma.
    Big Think, Big Think, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • The plot is little more than an excuse to string together a series of fight scenes, emulating the experience of playing the games.
    Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 7 May 2026
  • Virtue ethics, attributed to Aristotle, focuses on which character traits make one a good person, such as emulating virtuousness embodied by role models.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
Verb
  • Food is prepared on charcoal- burning grills, giving it a mouthwatering char and aroma that electric grills could never dream of replicating.
    Nathanael Gassett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Ahead of taking on the task of replicating Michael's legendary voice and performing skills, Jaafar practiced for hours on end to sing as Michael.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Interior designer Amanda Reynal also stresses the importance of using building materials thoughtfully, which often means using fewer and repeating them.
    Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2026
  • The rings arise because the metal softens as the can compresses, then stiffens, then compresses and stiffens again, repeating the pattern until the compression is complete—akin to something called homoclinic snaking.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2026
Verb
  • The tense battle culminates in the Beliskner being destroyed, in turn killing all the Replicators, except for one, which is seen crawling out of the ocean, setting up future battles with this duplicating menace.
    Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The findings, published in a new study in the journal Nature Communications, suggest there’s a hard limit to duplicating mammals.
    Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026

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“Copying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copying. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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