covet

verb cov·et \ ˈkə-vət \

Definition of covet

transitive verb

1 : to wish for earnestly

covet an award

2 : to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably

The king's brother coveted the throne.

intransitive verb

: to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another

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covetable

play \ˈkə-və-tə-bəl\ adjective

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coveter

play \ˈkə-və-tər\ noun

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covetingly

play \ˈkə-və-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

See covet defined for English-language learners

See covet defined for kids

Examples of covet in a Sentence

The oldest of the students, she had become a confidante of Fern's and she alone was allowed to call her by her first name. It was not a privilege the others coveted. —Edward P. Jones, The Known World, 2003
The only Commandment I'd breached, besides killing that bird with my air rifle, was that I had coveted Bobby Entrekin's electric train. It blew real smoke. Mine didn't. —Lewis Grizzard, Reader's Digest, January 1992
He had discovered a great law of human action, without knowing it—namely, that in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing, it is only necessary to make the thing difficult to attain. —Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, 1876
His religion warns against coveting material goods.
I've been coveting that sleek sports car in the showroom for some time now.

Recent Examples of covet from the Web

In 2012, the Red Sox coveted Blue Jays manager John Farrell, a former pitching coach in Boston.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "If Braves want Dayton Moore, hiring would likely come with a price," 1 Nov. 2017
Fans — hell, nonfans, too — covet her flawless hair, dewy skin, and impeccable style.

— judith newman, Allure, "Kerry Washington Says This Skin-Care Ingredient Is "God's Gift to Women"," 17 Oct. 2017
European and Japanese interests do not always make a comfortable fit; Europe covets Chinese investment, for example, while Mr Abe has been courting Vladimir Putin, despite a long-standing territorial squabble between Japan and Russia.

— The Economist, "Charlemagne: Love triangleTrade deals between the EU and Japan only get you so far," 5 Oct. 2017
In China, they’ve been coveted as a source of potency and virility for 600 years.

— National Geographic, "Dried Seahorses Seized—All Eight Million," 3 July 2016
Slots on the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the tax code, are highly coveted.

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Republican committee chairmen are retiring in droves, despite unified control of Congress," 3 Nov. 2017
But that money was particularly coveted by the 152-member Guidiville Band, which only secured its current 44-acre plot of land northwest of Sacramento after suing the federal government for terminating its tribal status in 1958.

— jeremy roebuck, Philly.com, "How a Main Line payday lender used an Indian tribe and an empty computer server to make millions," 2 Nov. 2017
After that, more than a half-dozen teams — some undefeated, some with one loss — are scrambling for the remaining slots in the CFP’s coveted final four.

— david wharton, latimes.com, "College football week ahead: Playoff committee takes the spotlight," 29 Oct. 2017
The Nets' pick is so highly coveted because the upcoming draft is expected to be deep, and Brooklyn has been one of the league's worst teams.

— joe vardon, cleveland.com, "LeBron James: Brooklyn Nets' 2018 draft pick Cavaliers own 'might not even be that good'," 26 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'covet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of covet

Middle English coveiten, from Anglo-French coveiter, from Vulgar Latin *cupidietare, from Latin cupiditat-, cupiditas desire, from cupidus desirous, from cupere to desire

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

covet Synonyms

Phrases

set one's heart on;

Synonym Discussion of covet

desire, wish, want, crave, covet mean to have a longing for. desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim.

- desires to start a new life

wish sometimes implies a general or transient longing especially for the unattainable.

- wishes for permanent world peace

want specifically suggests a felt need or lack.

- wants to have a family

crave stresses the force of physical appetite or emotional need.

- craves sweets

covet implies strong envious desire.

- covets his rise to fame

COVET Defined for English Language Learners

covet

verb

Definition of covet for English Language Learners

: to want (something that you do not have) very much

COVET Defined for Kids

covet

verb cov·et \ ˈkəv-ət \

Definition of covet for Students

coveted; coveting

: to wish for greatly or with envy

I admit I covet success.

It's wrong to covet a friend's happiness.

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See words that rhyme with covet Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for covet Spanish Central: Translation of covet Nglish: Translation of covet for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of covet for Arabic speakers

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covet

Definition of covet

covetable

coveter

covetingly

Examples of covet in a Sentence

Recent Examples of covet from the Web

Origin and Etymology of covet

covet Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Phrases

Synonym Discussion of covet

COVET Defined for English Language Learners

covet

Definition of covet for English Language Learners

COVET Defined for Kids

covet

Definition of covet for Students

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