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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Recent Examples of copying
Start copying Lopez below for as little as $20.
—
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Simple tasks, like drawing lines or copying text, did not reveal major differences between the two groups.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Now, the Chicago White Sox are copying the idea.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Instead of copying Hogsmeade again, its next Potter land was completely new.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Bown and Keynes were careful not to advocate for copying the Chinese model wholesale.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 May 2026
Prosecutors say Watson pretended to be a pregnant teen, copying the social media posts of a minor in Pennsylvania.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 May 2026
In that sense, Russia is copying the success of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Force that became the world’s first standalone military branch focused on drones in June 2024.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Funny enough, the New York Mets’ outfielders celebrated their win on Tuesday by copying Lee, Gilbert and Bader’s enthusiastic celebration.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
Simple tasks, like drawing lines or copying text, did not reveal major differences between the two groups.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Now, the Chicago White Sox are copying the idea.
—Jon Greenberg, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Instead of copying Hogsmeade again, its next Potter land was completely new.
—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Bown and Keynes were careful not to advocate for copying the Chinese model wholesale.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 May 2026
Prosecutors say Watson pretended to be a pregnant teen, copying the social media posts of a minor in Pennsylvania.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 May 2026
In that sense, Russia is copying the success of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Force that became the world’s first standalone military branch focused on drones in June 2024.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Funny enough, the New York Mets’ outfielders celebrated their win on Tuesday by copying Lee, Gilbert and Bader’s enthusiastic celebration.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for copying
Verb
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Young musicians frequently attempted to impress him by reproducing familiar Miles Davis styles.—
Bill Fischer,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
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The association said the releases are not a sustainable solution to prevent smallmouth bass from reproducing and threaten a critical fund used to operate, maintain and invest in hydropower and transmission facilities.—
Dorany Pineda,
Fortune,
27 May 2026
Verb
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In a case of life imitating art, this whodunnit explores the investigation behind her disappearance, strangely resembling one of Christie’s own novels, where everyone in her life becomes a suspect, including her brother, Monty (Trevena).—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
1 June 2026
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Zoe, born seven years later, grew up watching them, imitating them and wanting to be them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Antiques were restored and put in prominent places, rooms and suites were upgraded with new furnishings and fixtures, the beloved Café Romano got a facelift, and the energy infrastructure was upgraded, rendering the hotel more sustainable and making space for a new rooftop bar.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Robb Report,
4 June 2026
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The past few years have seen a shift toward drenching, or covering every wall—including, sometimes, the ceiling—in a material, whether that's paint, wood, or wallpaper, rendering the accent wall less popular.—
Shagun Khare,
The Spruce,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Rivals Crystal Palace became the third Premier League club in four years to lift the trophy with Wednesday’s 1-0 win in the final against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, emulating West Ham (2023) and Chelsea (2025).—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
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His biggest achievement at City has been winning the Premier League-Champions League-FA Cup treble in the 2022-23 season, emulating the feat of Manchester United in 1999.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 May 2026
Verb
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Inspired by a wild village league where livestock are awarded as prizes, Suchao has become so popular that other provinces are now replicating its model.—
Reagan Yip,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
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Then, as England’s defenders desperately appealed for handball, Maradona somewhat unwisely celebrated by repeatedly raising his left fist to the crowd, replicating his decisive touch.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Robinson’s first go at the drill was so bad defensive line coach Austin Clark forced him to do it again, and then again, repeating the coached technique until the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick got it right.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
7 June 2026
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People left theaters repeating lines, sharing jokes, and reliving scenes with their fam.—
Datwon Thomas,
VIBE.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Creating parallel capabilities overseas risks duplicating existing infrastructure while diverting attention and resources from the interventions most likely to bring the outbreak under control.—
Krutika Kuppalli,
STAT,
5 June 2026
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But Elliott’s openness to the idea of duplicating a move his father made 25 years ago was greeted with near-unanimous approval online.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Copying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/copying. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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