To cope means to deal with a difficult situation or challenge in a way that helps you get through it. When you cope with something hard, you're finding ways to manage your feelings and keep going, even when things are tough.

If your family moves to a new town, you might cope by joining clubs to make friends, or by video-calling your old friends until you feel more settled. When a student struggles with math, she might cope by asking for extra help, practicing problems at home, or breaking big assignments into smaller pieces. Athletes cope with the pressure of competition by practicing their breathing, focusing on their training, or reminding themselves of past successes.

The word suggests active effort rather than just waiting for problems to disappear. Someone who copes well doesn't pretend nothing is wrong; instead, they acknowledge the difficulty and work to handle it. You might hear someone say “I can't cope with all this homework” when they feel overwhelmed, or “She's coping better now” when someone is recovering from a setback.

Different people cope in different ways. Some talk to friends or family, some throw themselves into activities they enjoy, and some need quiet time alone. People try to find healthy strategies that help them when life gets challenging.