Synonyms of cover

cover 1 of 2

verb

ˈkə-vər 

1

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• substitute
• stand in
• fill in
• spell
• step in
• sub
• take over
• pinch-hit
• double (as)
• relieve
• understudy

2

as in to coat

to form a layer over

by morning a foot of snow covered the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

• coat
• sheet
• carpet
• blanket
• wrap
• overlay
• overlie
• overspread
• envelop
• curtain
• encircle
• enclose
• mantle
• circle
• veil
• encompass
• shawl
• enshroud
• cloak
• clothe
• swathe
• shroud
• enrobe
• enswathe
• enwrap

3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shield
• mask
• clothe
• screen
• veil
• drape
• cloak
• crown
• cap
• obscure
• disguise
• pall
• canopy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expose
• uncover
• bare

4

as in to concern

to have (something) as a subject matter

this section of the book covers kitchen makeovers for the enterprising do-it-yourselfer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• concern
• include
• deal (with)
• present
• treat (of)
• pertain (to)
• specify
• encompass
• contain
• offer
• bear (on or upon)
• relate (to)
• have to do with
• mention
• touch (upon)
• refer (to)
• notice
• incorporate
• cite
• quote
• instance
• allude (to)
• note
• name
• appertain (to)
• entail
• glance (upon)
• advert (to)
• embrace

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• exclude
• omit
• forget
• ignore
• slight
• disregard
• pass over
• overlook
• neglect
• reject
• brush (aside or off)
• slur (over)
• overpass
• shrug off

5

as in to conceal

to keep secret or shut off from view

covered the foxhole with grass and leaves

Synonyms & Similar Words

• conceal
• hide
• obscure
• disguise
• mask
• suppress
• curtain
• veil
• cloak
• blanket
• blot out
• paper over
• screen
• shroud
• camouflage
• bury
• occult
• overshadow
• block
• enshroud
• belie
• cover (up)
• smother
• shade
• varnish
• whitewash
• gloss (over)
• occlude
• obstruct
• gild
• darken
• eclipse
• overcast
• cloud
• becloud
• bedim
• befog

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• show
• reveal
• expose
• disclose
• display
• uncover
• divulge
• bare
• present
• unveil
• bring out
• clarify
• unmask
• uncloak
• illuminate
• publish
• spread
• get out
• advertise
• proclaim
• publicize
• broadcast
• air

6

as in to cross

to make one's way through, across, or over

we usually manage to cover a lot of ground in a single day

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cross
• traverse
• follow
• navigate
• travel
• track
• walk
• course
• pass (over)
• cut (across)
• transit
• proceed (along)
• go
• ride
• hike
• tread
• peregrinate
• perambulate
• run
• tramp
• traipse
• crisscross

7

as in to monitor

to pay continued close attention to (something) for a particular purpose

I'll cover the reception desk while you take a break

Synonyms & Similar Words

• monitor
• watch
• keep an eye on
• observe
• look
• view
• eye
• notice
• see
• sight
• stare
• note
• spy
• glimpse
• peek
• regard
• surveil
• witness
• gaze
• peer
• gape
• glare
• peep
• behold
• glance
• espy
• goggle
• gawk
• rubberneck

8

as in to protect

to drive danger or attack away from

covered the wounded soldier until he could be rescued from the downed chopper

Synonyms & Similar Words

• protect
• defend
• shield
• safeguard
• guard
• keep
• fence
• fend
• secure
• prevent
• save
• screen
• ward
• stand up for
• bulwark
• preserve
• withstand
• resist
• forfend
• avert
• oppose
• conserve
• war
• fight
• contend
• wall
• battle
• buffer
• picket
• palisade

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attack
• assault
• submit
• assail
• overrun
• beset
• yield
• cave
• bombard
• storm
• besiege
• capitulate

cover

2 of 2

noun

1

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lid
• top
• cap
• hood
• roof
• covering
• housing
• casing
• jacket
• case
• shell
• dome
• capsule
• sheath

2

as in defense

means or method of defending

provided cover while their comrades ran for safety

Synonyms & Similar Words

• defense
• ammunition
• protection
• shield
• safeguard
• wall
• weapon
• screen
• security
• armor
• guard
• ward
• aegis
• buckler
• armament
• arm
• weaponry
• munitions
• fort
• fortress
• stronghold
• palisade
• fastness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• attack
• assault
• offense
• aggression
• offensive

3

as in covering

something that encloses another thing especially to protect it

put the restaurant menus in clear plastic covers so that they would last longer

Synonyms & Similar Words

• covering
• sheath
• casing
• housing
• case
• jacket
• shell
• hull
• shield
• armor
• capsule
• pod
• coating
• plate
• package
• cartridge
• cocoon
• encasement
• wrapper
• husk
• plating
• cassette
• bark
• house
• mail
• crust
• facing
• hide
• envelope
• skin
• backing
• carapace
• cuticle
• panoply
• coverture

4

as in replacement

a person or thing that takes the place of another

people may only skip their shifts if they find a cover for themselves first

Synonyms & Similar Words

• replacement
• substitute
• backup
• assistant
• sub
• surrogate
• stand-in
• reserve
• relief
• fill-in
• alternate
• locum tenens
• pinch hitter
• designated hitter
• proxy
• second
• delegate
• makeshift
• apology
• deputy
• factor
• representative
• stopgap
• rep
• agent
• attorney
• assignee
• commissary
• successor
• understudy
• envoy
• procurator
• superseder
• reliever

5

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• roof
• canopy
• tent
• ceiling
• umbrella
• dome
• awning
• pavilion
• shield
• shelter
• screen
• canvas
• arbor
• fly
• marquee
• shade
• bower
• pergola
• sunshade

6

as in veil

something that covers or conceals like a piece of cloth

under cover of friendship the con man insinuated himself in the lives of the unsuspecting couple

Synonyms & Similar Words

• veil
• shroud
• cloak
• wraps
• blanket
• covering
• mask
• curtain
• mantle
• pall
• robe
• hood
• cope
• shield
• cover-up
• coverture
• screen
• penumbra
• blind
• camouflage
• disguise
• face
• veneer
• facade
• concealer
• fig leaf
• varnish
• gloss
• Trojan horse
• Potemkin village

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cover

Verb

Its provider networks include doctors in all 100 counties, covering 95% of the state’s physicians and nearly all acute-care hospitals, according to its website. — Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 2026

Hnin Aye asked acquaintances for money to cover the fee, around $600, and travel expenses to get to the embassy in Bangkok. — Andrew Nachemson, The Dial, 22 Sep. 2026

Noun

Besides the several covers of ‘90s-era pop music classics by the likes of INXS and Tina Turner, composer Nathan Matthew David has contributed an original soundtrack incorporating traditional Filipino and Indigenous instruments. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026

There’s talk amongst the crowd about the album, but nothing as loud or abrasive as the chatter happening online about everything from her album cover to her single choices to her strong, vocal opinions about her album cover and single choices. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing cover

• cover (up)