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B2 adverb #8,000 most common 5 min read

ape

Top 8,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips ape in 30 Seconds

Explanation ape in your Level:

At the A1 level, we usually only know 'ape' as a big animal like a gorilla. It is a noun. You might say 'I see an ape at the zoo.' We don't use it as a verb or for complex meanings yet. Keep it simple: big monkey = ape.

At A2, you might hear the phrase 'go ape' in cartoons or simple stories. It means to get very, very excited or angry. For example, 'The boy went ape when he got a new toy.' It is a funny way to say someone is acting wild.

At B1, you start to see 'ape' used to mean 'to copy.' If a friend starts wearing the same clothes as you, you might say they are 'aping' your style. It's a bit more descriptive than just saying 'copying.' It shows you understand the person is trying to be like you.

At B2, you use 'ape' to describe unoriginality. In an essay about art, you might write that a painter 'apes the style of Picasso.' This shows you think the painter is not being original. You also use 'go ape' to describe large groups, like crowds at a concert.

At C1, you recognize the subtle mockery in 'ape.' It often implies that the person being copied is superior, and the person 'aping' them looks a bit silly. You can use it in professional critiques of literature, politics, or corporate strategy to point out lack of innovation.

At C2, you use 'ape' with precision. You understand its etymological roots in the 'ape' as a mimic animal. You might use it in complex metaphors about human nature or evolutionary psychology, or to describe a sophisticated but ultimately derivative philosophical movement.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

ape in 30 Seconds

Ape means to copy or mimic someone, often poorly or mockingly.
The phrase 'go ape' describes losing emotional control, either in anger or joy.
It is a B2 level word used in art, business, and casual talk.
Using 'ape' usually suggests the imitation lacks original thought or quality.

The word ape, primarily used as a verb despite your categorization as an adverb, carries a specific nuance of imitation. When you ape someone, you aren't just copying them; you are often doing so in a way that is unthinking, clumsy, or even mocking. It implies a lack of originality or a superficial grasp of the subject being imitated. In the context of the idiom 'go ape', the word shifts into a territory of wild, unrestrained emotion—ranging from extreme anger to overwhelming excitement.

Core Concept: To mimic someone's actions or style without understanding the underlying principles, often resulting in a caricature.
Idiomatic Usage: The phrase 'go ape' describes a person losing their cool or becoming incredibly enthusiastic about something.

Young painters often ape the styles of the old masters before finding their own unique voice.

Historically, the term derives from the perceived behavior of primates, who were thought to mimic human actions without the capacity for human reason. In modern discourse, using the word 'ape' can be slightly derogatory if directed at a person's creative work, suggesting they are a mere 'copycat' rather than an innovator. However, in casual settings, 'going ape' is a common way to describe a crowd's reaction to a goal in a soccer match or a fan's reaction to seeing their favorite celebrity.

The crowd went ape when the band finally played their hit single.

Connotation: Usually negative in professional contexts (implying lack of talent), but neutral to positive in high-energy social contexts (excitement).

He tried to ape the CEO's mannerisms to appear more authoritative.

Using 'ape' correctly requires understanding its grammatical role. As a verb, it is transitive, meaning it needs an object. You ape something or someone. It is frequently seen in literary criticism, art reviews, and social commentary. When used as an adverbial phrase (though technically an idiom), 'go ape' functions as an intransitive verb phrase describing a state of being.

Transitive Usage: Subject + Ape + Object (e.g., The student aped the teacher).

The new startup began to ape the business model of its larger competitor.

In more advanced writing, 'ape' can be used to describe cultural phenomena. For instance, 'The local architecture began to ape the colonial style.' This usage suggests a forced or unnatural adoption of external traits. It is vital to distinguish 'ape' from 'emulate.' To emulate is to copy with the intent to equal or surpass, often out of respect. To ape is to copy blindly or poorly.

Stop trying to ape my accent; it's quite offensive.

Idiomatic Variation: 'Go ape over something' implies a positive obsession, while 'go ape at someone' implies anger.

My boss will go ape if he finds out we missed the deadline.

You will encounter 'ape' in diverse environments. In the world of tech and business, analysts might accuse a company of 'aping' a successful feature from a rival. In sports journalism, the phrase 'the fans went ape' is a staple for describing high-intensity moments. In academic or literary circles, 'ape' is used to critique writers who lack a distinct voice and instead rely on the tropes of more famous authors.

Critics argued that the film did nothing but ape the tropes of 1980s slasher movies.

In casual conversation, 'ape' is less common as a verb but very common in the 'go ape' idiom. You might hear a parent say, 'The kids went ape at the birthday party.' This suggests a level of chaotic energy. It is also found in older literature, where the comparison between humans and apes was a common trope for discussing behavior and evolution. In the digital age, 'aping into' a cryptocurrency has become a slang term for investing heavily without research, which perfectly aligns with the 'unthinking' definition.

He decided to ape into the new token after seeing a tweet.

The most common mistake learners make is confusing 'ape' with 'mimic' or 'copy' in terms of formality and tone. While 'mimic' can be neutral or even complimentary (like a mimic bird), 'ape' almost always suggests that the imitation is inferior. Another mistake is using 'ape' as a noun when a verb is intended, or vice versa. While 'ape' is a noun (the animal), the action of copying is the verb form.

Ape vs. Emulate: Mistake: 'I want to ape my hero.' Correct: 'I want to emulate my hero.' (Unless you are making fun of them).

Don't just ape the textbook; try to understand the logic.

In the idiom 'go ape,' a common error is omitting the 'go.' You cannot 'ape' (become excited) without the auxiliary verb 'go.' Additionally, some learners might use 'ape' to mean 'act like a monkey' in a literal physical sense, which is better described as 'monkeying around.' 'Ape' as a verb is specifically about the pattern of behavior or style, not just physical playfulness.

Understanding synonyms for 'ape' helps refine your vocabulary. If you want to describe a respectful imitation, use emulate. If you want to describe a humorous or mocking imitation, use parody or lampoon. If you are describing a biological or mechanical imitation, mimic is the standard term.

Comparison: Ape vs. Mimic: 'Mimic' is often technical or neutral. 'Ape' suggests the imitation is clumsy or unoriginal.
Comparison: Ape vs. Parody: A 'parody' is intentional humor. 'Aping' might be a sincere but failed attempt to look cool.

Rather than ape his predecessor, the new director chose a radical path.

Other alternatives include copycat (informal), simulate (technical), and echo (literary). When 'ape' is used in 'go ape,' synonyms include go bananas, flip out, or lose one's cool. Each of these alternatives carries a slightly different energy, with 'go ape' being perhaps the most physically expressive.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

The verb usage 'to ape' appeared in the 13th century, based on the observation that apes naturally mimic human behavior.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /eɪp/

US /eɪp/

Single syllable, no primary stress variation.

Rhymes With

shape grape tape escape drape landscape scrape cape

Common Errors

Pronouncing it like 'app' (short A).
Adding an extra vowel sound at the end.
Confusing it with 'ebb'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in context.

Writing 4/5

Requires nuance to use the verb form correctly without sounding rude.

Speaking 3/5

Idiom 'go ape' is very common and easy to use.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation, usually easy to hear.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

copy monkey animal like act

Learn Next

mimic emulate parody caricature derivative

Advanced

simian anthropoid pantomime servile pastiche

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs

You must ape *something* (e.g., He aped the walk).

Idiomatic Phrasal Verbs

'Go ape' acts as a single unit of meaning.

Gerunds as Subjects

Aping others is a sign of insecurity.

Present Continuous for Annoyance

You are always aping me!

Stative vs. Dynamic

'Ape' is dynamic (an action), while 'be like' is stative.

Examples by Level

The ape is eating a banana.

L'ape mange une banane.

Noun usage.

I like the big ape.

J'aime le grand singe.

Direct object.

Is that an ape?

Est-ce un singe ?

Question form.

The ape is black.

Le singe est noir.

Adjective usage.

Look at the ape!

Regarde le singe !

Imperative.

The ape can climb.

Le singe peut grimper.

Modal verb.

The ape is strong.

Le singe est fort.

Simple predicate.

Two apes are playing.

Deux singes jouent.

Plural noun.

The kids went ape at the park.

Les enfants sont devenus fous au parc.

Idiom: go ape.

Don't go ape, it's just a game.

Ne t'énerve pas, c'est juste un jeu.

Negative imperative.

He went ape when he won.

Il est devenu fou quand il a gagné.

Past tense of go ape.

The fans went ape for the singer.

Les fans sont devenus fous pour le chanteur.

Prepositional phrase 'for'.

Will you go ape if I break this?

Vas-tu t'énerver si je casse ça ?

Future tense question.

They went ape over the news.

Ils sont devenus fous à cause de la nouvelle.

Preposition 'over'.

She went ape because she was happy.

Elle est devenue folle parce qu'elle était heureuse.

Conjunction 'because'.

My dad went ape when he saw the car.

Mon père est devenu fou quand il a vu la voiture.

Time clause.

Stop aping your older brother.

Arrête de singer ton frère aîné.

Gerund as object of stop.

She likes to ape the celebrities on TV.

Elle aime singer les célébrités à la télé.

Infinitive after like.

He aped the teacher's voice perfectly.

Il a parfaitement imité la voix du professeur.

Transitive verb past tense.

The robot can ape human movements.

Le robot peut imiter les mouvements humains.

Ability with modal.

Why are you aping my every move?

Pourquoi imites-tu chacun de mes gestes ?

Present continuous question.

The movie aped the style of old westerns.

Le film a imité le style des vieux westerns.

Describing creative work.

It is annoying when you ape me.

C'est énervant quand tu m'imites.

Subordinate clause.

He aped his father's way of walking.

Il a imité la façon de marcher de son père.

Possessive noun.

The new phone apes the design of the iPhone.

Le nouveau téléphone imite le design de l'iPhone.

Present simple third person.

Critics say the band just aped 70s rock.

Les critiques disent que le groupe a simplement imité le rock des années 70.

Reported speech.

He was aping the boss to get a laugh.

Il imitait le patron pour faire rire.

Past continuous for purpose.

The building apes the Gothic architecture of Europe.

Le bâtiment imite l'architecture gothique d'Europe.

Describing architecture.

Don't just ape the experts; think for yourself.

Ne te contente pas de singer les experts ; pense par toi-même.

Imperative with contrast.

She aped his signature to sign the letter.

Elle a imité sa signature pour signer la lettre.

Context of forgery.

The software apes the user interface of Windows.

Le logiciel imite l'interface utilisateur de Windows.

Tech context.

The comedian aped several famous politicians.

L'humoriste a imité plusieurs politiciens célèbres.

Professional context.

The minor poet did nothing but ape the Romantic greats.

Le poète mineur n'a fait que singer les grands romantiques.

Idiomatic 'nothing but'.

The company was accused of aping its rival's marketing strategy.

L'entreprise a été accusée d'avoir imité la stratégie marketing de son rival.

Passive voice with gerund.

His prose aped the convoluted style of the 19th century.

Sa prose imitait le style alambiqué du XIXe siècle.

Describing literary style.

They aped the customs of the local nobility.

Ils ont imité les coutumes de la noblesse locale.

Social commentary.

The child’s behavior aped the violence he saw on TV.

Le comportement de l'enfant imitait la violence qu'il voyait à la télé.

Abstract subject.

Aping the manners of the elite won't make you one of them.

Singer les manières de l'élite ne fera pas de vous l'un d'entre eux.

Gerund as subject.

The architecture aped the grandeur of Rome.

L'architecture imitait la grandeur de Rome.

Historical reference.

He spent years aping the masters before finding his voice.

Il a passé des années à singer les maîtres avant de trouver sa propre voix.

Temporal phrase 'years aping'.

The satire was so biting because it so accurately aped the target's flaws.

La satire était si mordante parce qu'elle imitait si fidèlement les défauts de la cible.

Causal complexity.

To ape a philosophy is not the same as to embody it.

Singer une philosophie n'est pas la même chose que l'incarner.

Philosophical contrast.

The regime aped democratic processes to maintain a veneer of legitimacy.

Le régime a imité les processus démocratiques pour maintenir un semblant de légitimité.

Political nuance.

The play aped the structure of Greek tragedy to subvert its meaning.

La pièce a imité la structure de la tragédie grecque pour en subvertir le sens.

Literary analysis.

His latest work is a mere aping of his earlier, more daring successes.

Son dernier travail n'est qu'une simple imitation de ses succès antérieurs plus audacieux.

Gerund as a noun phrase.

In aping the vernacular of the streets, the politician seemed out of touch.

En imitant le vernaculaire de la rue, le politicien semblait déconnecté.

Participial phrase for irony.

The AI was designed to ape the nuances of human empathy.

L'IA a été conçue pour imiter les nuances de l'empathie humaine.

Modern technical context.

The forgery was so perfect it didn't just ape the brushstrokes, but the soul of the work.

Le faux était si parfait qu'il n'imitait pas seulement les coups de pinceau, mais l'âme de l'œuvre.

Hyperbolic comparison.

Synonyms

mimic imitate copy parrot mirror simulate

Antonyms

innovate originate lead

Common Collocations

ape the style

ape the manners

ape a look

go ape over

go ape at

blindly ape

clumsily ape

ape the behavior

ape the movement

ape the success

Common Phrases

Go ape

— To become extremely excited, enthusiastic, or angry.

The crowd went ape when the goal was scored.

Ape into

— To invest or join something quickly without research (slang).

He aped into the new crypto project.

Ape-like

— Resembling an ape in appearance or behavior.

He had an ape-like strength.

Ape someone's every move

— To copy someone very closely and constantly.

She's been aping my every move since I got here.

Ape the master

— To copy a famous artist or expert.

Many painters start by aping the master.

Go ape-shit

— A vulgar version of 'go ape', meaning to lose control completely.

The boss went ape-shit when he saw the error.

Stop aping me

— A command to stop someone from mimicking you.

Stop aping me; it's not funny anymore.

Ape a fashion

— To follow a trend without personal style.

She just apes whatever fashion is in the magazines.

Ape a voice

— To imitate how someone speaks.

He can ape the president's voice perfectly.

Ape the system

— To follow a process without understanding it.

They just ape the system without questioning it.

Often Confused With

ape vs Monkey

A monkey has a tail; an ape does not. As a verb, 'monkey' means to mess with something, 'ape' means to copy.

ape vs Mimic

Mimic is more neutral; ape is more critical.

ape vs Emulate

Emulate is positive (copying to improve); ape is negative (copying blindly).

Idioms & Expressions

"Go ape"

— To behave in a wild or highly emotional way.

The kids went ape at the party.

Informal

"Monkey see, monkey do"

— A related idiom meaning people copy what they see others doing.

It's just monkey see, monkey do with these students.

Informal

"Ape into"

— To jump into an investment recklessly.

Don't ape into that stock.

Slang

"Go bananas"

— A synonym for go ape.

The crowd went bananas.

Informal

"Go ballistic"

— To become very angry, similar to a negative 'go ape'.

He went ballistic on the staff.

Informal

"Copycat"

— A person who apes others.

He's such a copycat.

Informal

"In the ape's shadow"

— A rare phrase for being a poor imitation.

He lived in the ape's shadow of his father.

Literary

"Ape-man"

— A primitive or uncivilized man.

He behaved like an ape-man.

Neutral

"To play the ape"

— To act foolishly or to mimic someone for fun.

He played the ape to entertain the children.

Old-fashioned

"Ape's trick"

— A foolish or mischievous act.

That was a classic ape's trick.

Archaic

Easily Confused

ape vs Apish

Looks like ape.

Apish is an adjective meaning silly or prone to mimicking.

He had an apish grin.

ape vs Ape-shit

Vulgar version.

Very offensive in formal settings, use 'go ape' instead.

He went ape-shit.

ape vs Shape

Rhymes.

Shape is about form; ape is about copying.

The shape of the ape was huge.

ape vs App

Similar sound.

An app is software; an ape is an animal or action.

I have an app about apes.

ape vs Apeing

Spelling.

Sometimes spelled 'aping' (correct) or 'apeing' (less common).

Aping is common.

Sentence Patterns

Subject + went ape.

The dog went ape.

Subject + is aping + Object.

He is aping the singer.

Subject + aped + [Possessive] + [Noun].

She aped his signature.

Gerund + is + Adjective.

Aping the elite is futile.

To ape + [Noun] + is + [Infinitive].

To ape genius is to reveal one's own mediocrity.

Subject + went ape over + [Noun].

They went ape over the cake.

Stop + aping + [Object].

Stop aping that noise.

Subject + did nothing but + ape + [Object].

The film did nothing but ape the original.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Common in specific niches (Art, Finance, Sports).

Common Mistakes

He aped at me. → He aped me.
Ape is a transitive verb; it doesn't need 'at' unless you use 'go ape'.
I want to ape my teacher because I respect her. → I want to emulate my teacher.
Ape usually implies a bad or silly copy. Emulate is for respect.
The crowd aped when the goal was scored. → The crowd went ape.
You need 'went' to use the idiom correctly.
He is such an apeing person. → He is such an apish person.
Use the adjective 'apish' to describe a person's character.
She is ape her mother. → She is aping her mother.
Don't forget the -ing in the continuous tense.

Tips

Critical Writing

Use 'ape' when you want to criticize a movie or book for not being original.

Better than Copy

Instead of saying 'He copied my walk,' say 'He aped my walk' to show it was annoying.

Go Ape

Remember that 'go ape' can be for anger OR excitement. Context is key!

Long A

Make sure the 'A' sounds like 'cake' or 'lake'.

Transitive

Always follow the verb 'ape' with the thing being copied.

Sensitivity

Be careful using 'ape' to describe people directly; it can be offensive.

Art Reviews

This is a favorite word for art critics. Use it to sound more professional.

Crypto Slang

If you are on Twitter/X, you will see 'ape' used as a noun for investors.

Mimic

If you want a neutral word, use 'mimic' instead of 'ape'.

History

Remember that the word comes from the animal's habit of copying humans.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

An Ape Always Acts like Another. (A-A-A-A).

Visual Association

Imagine a gorilla wearing a suit and trying to use a laptop, 'aping' a businessman.

Word Web

copy mimic monkey gorilla wild imitate unoriginal excitement

Challenge

Try to use 'ape' and 'go ape' in the same paragraph about a concert.

Word Origin

Derived from the Old English 'apa', which comes from Proto-Germanic '*apô'. It has roots in various Indo-European languages.

Original meaning: Originally referred to any tailless primate (other than humans).

Germanic

Cultural Context

Avoid using 'ape' to describe people's physical appearance or behavior in a way that could be interpreted as racially insensitive.

Common in reviews and casual slang.

Planet of the Apes (Movie) The Hairy Ape (Eugene O'Neill play) Bored Ape Yacht Club (NFTs)

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Art & Literature

ape the style
ape the master
derivative aping
ape the tropes

Business

ape the competitor
ape the model
ape the strategy
ape the success

Social/Behavior

ape the manners
ape the cool kids
ape the accent
ape the walk

Emotional Reactions

go ape
went ape over
going ape at
go ape-shit

Technology

ape the UI
ape the features
ape the functionality
ape into the market

Conversation Starters

"Have you ever seen a crowd go ape at a concert?"

"Do you think it's okay for new artists to ape the styles of famous ones?"

"What makes you go ape with excitement?"

"Is there anyone whose style you've ever tried to ape?"

"Why do you think people ape celebrities so much?"

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you saw someone go ape. What caused it?

Write about an artist who you think apes others too much.

Reflect on a time you aped someone's behavior to fit in.

Does 'aping into' something usually lead to success or failure?

Compare the words 'ape' and 'emulate' in your own words.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

As a verb, it can be a mild insult to someone's creativity. As a noun, it depends on context, but calling a person an ape is usually offensive.

'Copy' is a general term. 'Ape' suggests the copy is unthinking, clumsy, or a bit silly.

Yes! 'The fans went ape when they won' means they were very happy and excited.

Yes, to describe companies that copy each other's products without innovating.

It is spelled 'aping' (drop the 'e').

Yes, both the verb and the idiom 'go ape' are used in both UK and US English.

It means to buy a coin very quickly because you are afraid of missing out, often without checking if it's good.

Technically no, but it is often used in adverbial phrases like 'go ape' or as the adverb 'apishly'.

Yes: ape, aped, aped.

They are humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans.