covet

verb

cov·​et ˈkə-vət How to pronounce covet (audio)
coveted; coveting; covets

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
covetable adjective
coveter noun
covetingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web
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.
Beyoncé is one of the most influential artists of her generation, and her ability to innovate musically has made her unreleased material especially coveted by fans and within the industry. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025 Not because his techniques aren’t coveted, but because he’s authored a number of books and DVDs demo’ing just how to achieve the special touch seen on his top clients. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 7 July 2025 The rankings are popular — many campuses in the country covet the lists — and controversial. Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2025 Porsche’s 356 is a wonderful classic to own and drive, and is especially coveted by enthusiasts with an appreciation for purity of concept and refined design. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for covet

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of covet was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Covet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covet. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

covet

verb
cov·​et ˈkəv-ət How to pronounce covet (audio)
: to wish for greatly or with envy
covet another's success
covet a friend's possessions
coveter noun
covetingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on covet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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