cops 1 of 2

Definition of copsnext
plural of cop

cops

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cop, slang

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 cops
Noun
The driver who hit him didn’t remain at the scene, cops said. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026 My friend Thai, whose parents were part of the Weather Underground leadership, remembers his father, Jeff Jones, coming home one day to find their family’s Hoboken apartment surrounded by cops—a fire inspector had spotted his tiny crop of marijuana plants on the fire escape. Zayd Ayers Dohrn, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026 The city is also on the hook to hire 4,000 cops after voters changed the city’s charter in 2024. Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cops
Noun
  • He was engaged in a battle of courtesy with some policemen over a brand of cigarettes called Long Life.
    Cassandra Neyenesch, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Two Israeli strikes early Sunday in the Gaza Strip killed six Palestinians, including three policemen.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • One of the sources said over 850 have been used so far in the conflict, roughly nine times the number of Tomahawks the Pentagon buys each year on average.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Comedian Matt Rife buys home in Rhode Island.
    Katie Landeck, The Providence Journal, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Tomislav Ivišić grabs a rebound against Houston in last weekend's Sweet 16.
    Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026
  • After lowering the helicopter to the water's surface, a flight crew member grabs the dog and hauls the pet aboard.
    Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Travelers said the long lines have been frustrating and are looking forward to TSA officers getting paid again.
    Eva Andersen, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Inside were the officers’ first assignments.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Nestlé said anyone who purchases KitKat bars — whether from a store shelf, a wholesaler or an online marketplace — can check the codes on their packaging to verify whether the products are legitimate.
    Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Outside of one firm that purchases delinquent property taxes, First National Assets, with a Chicago office, other health-care firms appear to have no interest in the Vista network, which includes a satellite facility in Lindenhurst at Route 132 and Deep Lake Road.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But beyond the watches, what immediately catches the eye upon entering the space is a floor-to-ceiling wall covered in live local greenery.
    Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 Apr. 2026
  • But when this happens, what catches many people off guard isn't the garnishment itself, as there are plenty of warning signs beforehand.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Off stage, Benedick and Beatrice spar their way toward the aisle, while our bumbling constables take center stage.
    Cincinnati Enquirer, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Agencies assisting included Tarrant County constables, police departments from Fort Worth and Forest Hill, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.
    Doug Myers, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Prioritize balance by naming what fits today and what lands tomorrow.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Economic impact almost always leads the news when a city lands the NFL draft.
    Adam Annaccone, The Conversation, 1 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cops.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cops. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on cops

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster