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Definition of covernext
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as in to substitute
to serve as a replacement usually for a time only a friend covered for me as a hospital volunteer while my family went on vacation

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as in to shield
to place a protective layer over better cover your skin with sunblock if you don't want a sunburn, not to mention skin cancer

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cover

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noun

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as in lid
a piece placed over an open container to hold in, protect, or conceal its contents where's the cover for the cookie jar?

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as in roof
a raised covering over something for decoration or protection all of the exhibits at the fair are under cover, so the weather won't be a factor

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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 cover
Verb
Even as a successful homebuilder and entrepreneur, the 35-year-old says his income barely covers the necessities for his growing household. Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 18 Mar. 2026 The council also amended the ordinance’s reporting requirements, modifying them from one annual report to semiannual reports, with an initial report covering January through December 2025 due by the end of the fiscal year. Walker Armstrong, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
The need to put Pollock’s name on the cover is reflective of the time in which the book was written, when no one knew Lee Krasner’s name. Literary Hub, 17 Mar. 2026 On Monday night, Dover Air Force Base ordered all personnel to take shelter and remain under cover for about 15 minutes after a tornado warning was issued for the area. Joe Brandt, CBS News, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cover
Verb
  • Prizes may not be substituted for or redeemed for cash.
    CBS LA Staff, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
  • This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Add the flour and stir to coat.
    Robin Miller, AZCentral.com, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Everything—from the squat, one-story structure to the station wagon parked outside—had been coated in the same uneven layer of white paint, as if someone had tried, hurriedly, to erase it from the landscape.
    Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After the war, in sober reflection, the United States helped lead a global effort to try to tame the savagery of conflict and, in particular, to shield civilians.
    Nicholas D. Kristof, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Cyrus believes having Billy Ray on set helped shield her from the dark side of child stardom.
    Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • In the investing space, the boss of the world’s biggest investor, Norges Bank Investment Management CEO Nicolai Tagen, told CNBC he was surprised by how muted the market action has been to the war, saying he is concerned by the long term impact of higher oil prices.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2026
  • People may have also been concerned about giving over personal data to the federal government for similar reasons, city officials said at the time.
    R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Doja’s assistant slips through, gives me the thumbs-up, and ushers me into a dressing room the size of a tennis court, black velvet curtains concealing the walls.
    Liam Hess, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Beyond that, the county has concealed most legal bills from the process — fees paid to outside lawyers and investigators who built the case against Corpus and looked into her counter-accusations — citing attorney-client privilege.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • He has been anointed for no-doubt stardom since the Army All-American Bowl in 2018, when Waddle first crossed paths with Pat Surtain II.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Mar. 2026
  • And not, especially, as a hometown player crossing borough lines to play for New York.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 22 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Somaliland’s supporters in Washington view the territory as a potential security ally, with recognition potentially allowing US intelligence to monitor weapons flows, Houthi activity in Yemen, and China’s growing footprint, including Beijing’s military base in neighboring Djibouti.
    Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 20 Mar. 2026
  • For a tool meant to monitor avalanches and winter power outages, this is a significant hurdle.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 18 Mar. 2026
  • Both are recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, the 2012 executive action signed by former President Barack Obama that protects people brought to the United States as children from deportation.
    Juan Carlos Chavez, Sun Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cover. Accessed 24 Mar. 2026.

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