cover

1 of 2

verb

cov·​er ˈkə-vər 

covered; covering ˈkəv-riŋ 

ˈkə-və-

transitive verb

1

a

: to guard from attack

b(1)

: to have within the range of one's guns : command

The ships were covering approaches to the harbor.

(2)

: to hold within range of an aimed firearm

The deputy covered the sheriff who was apprehending the suspect.

c(1)

: to afford protection or security to : insure

a policy covering the traveler in all kinds of accidents

(2)

: to afford protection against or compensation (see compensation sense 2) for

a policy covering loss by fire

d(1)

: to guard (an opponent) in order to obstruct a play

a linebacker assigned to cover the tight end

(2)

: to be in position to receive a throw to (a base in baseball)

The shortstop was covering second.

e(1)

: to make provision for (a demand or charge) by means of a reserve or deposit

Your balance is insufficient to cover the check.

(2)

: to maintain a check on especially by patrolling

motorcycle police covering the highways

(3)

: to protect by contrivance or expedient

2

a

: to hide from sight or knowledge : conceal

cover up a scandal

b

: to lie over : envelop

a blanket covering her legs

3

: to lay or spread something over : overlay

Cover the seedbed with straw.

4

a

: to spread over

Snow covered the hills.

b

: to appear here and there on the surface of

a region covered with lakes

5

: to place or set a cover or covering over

Cover the pot.

6

a

: to copulate with (a female animal)

a horse covers a mare

b

: to sit on and incubate (eggs)

7

: to invest with a large or excessive amount of something

covered herself with glory

8

: to play a higher-ranking card on (a previously played card)

9

: to have sufficient scope to include or take into account

an examination covering a full year's work

10

: to deal with : treat

material covered in the first chapter

11

a

: to have as one's territory or field of activity

One sales rep covers the whole state.

b

: to report news about

reporters covering the campaign

12

: to pass over : traverse

The hikers covered 12 miles that day.

13

: to defray the cost of

cover expenses

14

: to place one's stake in equal jeopardy within a bet

15

: to buy securities or commodities for delivery against (an earlier short sale)

16

: to record or perform a cover of (a song)

intransitive verb

1

: to conceal something illicit, blameworthy, or embarrassing from notice

—usually used with up

cover up for a careless coworker

2

: to act as a substitute or replacement during an absence

a stand-in covering for an injured star

coverable

ˈkəv-rə-bəl 

ˈkə-və-

adjective

coverer

ˈkə-vər-ər 

noun

cover

2 of 2

noun

often attributive

1

: something that protects, shelters, or guards: such as

a

: natural shelter for an animal

also : the factors that provide such shelter

b(1)

: a position or situation affording protection from enemy fire

(2)

: the protection offered by airplanes in tactical support of a military operation

c

British : coverage sense 1a

2

: something that is placed over or about another thing:

a

: lid, top

b

: a binding or case for a book or the analogous part of a magazine

also : the front or back of such a binding

c

: an overlay or outer layer especially for protection

a mattress cover

d

: a tablecloth and the other table accessories

e

: cover charge

f

: roof

g

: a cloth used on a bed for warmth or for decoration

—usually used in plural

lying under the covers

h

: something (such as vegetation or snow) that covers the ground

i

: the extent to which clouds obscure the sky

3

a

: something that conceals or obscures

under cover of darkness

b

: a masking device : pretext

The project was a cover for intelligence operations.

4

: an envelope or wrapper for mail

5

: one who substitutes for another during an absence

6

: a recording or performance of a song previously recorded by another performer

coverless

ˈkə-vər-ləs 

adjective

Phrases

cover one's tracks

: to conceal traces in order to elude pursuers or escape detection

cover the ground or cover ground

: to deal with a subject or assignment in a particular manner

The new book covers a lot of ground.

under cover

1

: in an envelope or wrapper

2

: under concealment : in secret

Synonyms

Verb

• substitute
• stand in
• fill in
• spell

Noun

• lid
• top

Examples of cover in a Sentence

Verb

The gardener covered the soil with mulch.

The furniture had been covered in a protective cloth.

We covered the stains on the wall with a fresh coat of paint.

You should cover your mouth when you cough.

She covered her head with a scarf.

tables covered with white linen

Lakes cover much of the state.

The hikers covered long distances every day.

The bird may cover thousands of miles during its migration.

Noun

She placed a cover over the pan so that the oil wouldn't spatter.

I put a cover on the sofa to protect it.

There's a picture of the author on the book's back cover.

The singer is posing in jeans and cowboy boots on the album cover.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Alex killed Maggie and Paul to both cover up his financial crimes and to stop them from coming up in Paul's pending trial. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Because the books cover the story of the Ozarks region from prehistoric times to the 21st century, readers are likely to find a little something about any part of regional history that interests them. —Becca Martin-Brown, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2025

Noun

Alba is wearing a brown cover up with white stripes with a white bag on her back. —Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025

Cut the fabric into squares and add them to your fabric or quilt stash, or make cozy bedding or a washable cover for a pet bed. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French coverir, covrir, from Latin cooperire, from co- + operire to close, cover

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cover

• air cover
• blow one's cover
• break cover
• cloud cover
• cover-all
• cover all the bases
• cover band
• cover charge
• cover crop
• cover every base
• cover girl
• cover glass
• cover/hide a multitude of sins
• cover letter
• cover oneself in/with glory
• cover one's/someone's ass
• cover story
• cover-up
• diplomatic cover
• dove for cover
• first day cover
• from cover to cover
• gill cover
• ground cover
• made a dive for cover
• re-cover
• tonneau cover
• under cover
• under cover of anonymity
• under separate cover
• under (the) cover of darkness/night

Rhymes for cover

• hover
• plover
• discover
• hardcover
• recover
• thereover
• uncover
• rediscover
• undercover

Kids Definition

cover

1 of 2 verb

cov·​er ˈkəv-ər 

covered; covering ˈkəv-(ə-)riŋ 

1

a

: to guard from attack

b

: to have within range of one's guns

c

: to provide protection to or against : insure

insurance that covers the traveler in any accident

the policy covered water damage

d

: to maintain a check on especially by patrolling

state police covering the highways

2

a

: to hide something from sight or knowledge

cover up a scandal

b

: to conceal something dishonest or embarrassing from notice

cover for a friend in an investigation

c

: to act as a substitute or replacement

covered for me during my vacation

3

a

: to spread or lie over or on

covered the child with a blanket

water covered the floor

b

: to put something protective or concealing over

cover the mouth while coughing

4

a

: to deal with

a test covering two chapters

b

: to provide or plan for

plans covering an emergency

5

a

: to have as one's territory or field of activity

one salesperson covers the whole state

b

: to report news about

covered the trial

6

: to pass over or through

covered 10 miles a day

7

: to pay or provide for the payment of

cover expenses

coverable

ˈkəv-(ə-)rə-bəl 

adjective

coverer

-ər-ər

noun

cover

2 of 2 noun

1

: something that protects, shelters, or conceals (as a natural shelter for an animal or natural features that shelter or conceal)

2

a

: something that is placed over or about another thing (as the lid of a box or a sheet or blanket on a bed)

b

: a binding or case for a book or the front or back of such a binding

c

: something (as plants or snow) that covers the ground

3

: an envelope or wrapper for mail

Legal Definition

cover

1 of 2 transitive verb

cov·​er

1

: insure

this policy covers other family drivers

2

: to give protection against or compensation or indemnification for

doesn't cover flood damage

intransitive verb

: to obtain cover

where the seller anticipatorily repudiates a contract and the buyer does not cover

—Cosden Oil & Chemical Co. v. Karl O. Helm AG, 736 F.2d 1064 (1984)

cover

2 of 2 noun

: purchase of goods in substitution for those originally contracted for when the seller fails to fulfill the contract

the buyer is always free to choose between cover and damages for nondelivery

—Uniform Commercial Code

also : the substituted goods

Note: Under the Uniform Commercial Code, when a seller does not perform on a contract, the buyer has the option of covering, with the seller paying the difference between the cost of the cover and the original contract price, or seeking damages for nonperformance. Reselling is the seller's comparable remedy when a buyer does not perform under a contract.