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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
Now that the knitwear and boots are covered, consider grabbing this Merino Wool Collarless Cropped Jacket that’s somehow under $100. Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026 Michael Harley covers various athletics at Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. arkansasonline.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
Dramatic videos posted on social media and verified by NBC News show security forces firing tear gas at Tehran’s main bazaar Tuesday as protesters scramble for cover into passageways and narrow streets. Henry Austin, NBC news, 7 Jan. 2026 As the name suggests, everything—from cover to pages—is black, so just any ink won’t show up. Kristina Rutkowski, Vogue, 6 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cover
Verb
  • Inflation is so severe that, in the past two decades, the nation’s currency has been declared void and substituted with a new tender three times.
    Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
  • That includes the initiative’s drafters, who included language asking courts to substitute later dates if legally necessary to preserve the tax.
    Jared Walczak, Oc Register, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • These wooden utensils are coated in a clear lacquer that protects them and adds a beautiful shine.
    Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 16 Jan. 2026
  • The concha is coated in chocolate and drizzled and filled with creamy pistachio, with slices of strawberries tucked inside.
    Austin American Statesman, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • As Seattle's Matty Beniers caught up, Hischier turned to to his backhand to shield Beniers and put a shot past Grubauer.
    CBS News, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
  • At the least, the city needs ordinances that require property owners to landscape the edges of these lots to shield pedestrians and create more appealing environments.
    Mark Lamster Architecture Critic, Dallas Morning News, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Orpin did not respond to follow-up questions concerning the fate of the cidery's canning and retail sales operations.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Other concerning signs include constipation, feeling cold all the time, lightheadedness or fainting, and missing periods in girls.
    Melissa Willets, Parents, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For the white men, the experience of prison was the veil that now concealed them, rendering them strangers and exiles from the world outside.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
  • Glam was striking, amped up even with half of her face concealed.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For a president to tamper with the Fed is to cross a red line — to welcome panic and potential doom.
    Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 13 Jan. 2026
  • The driver that struck Riddles has not been charged with any crimes for the crash, which happened as Riddles tried to cross the road in an area that wasn't marked with a crosswalk.
    Zach Boetto, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • City leaders say the rules are needed because Rocklin currently has no formal regulations in place to monitor or enforce mobile vending activity.
    Conor McGill, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Post-landing return to Earth press conference This current timeline could change as NASA and SpaceX monitor weather at the splashdown site.
    Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • For instance, installation of solar panels can be protected by federal law, but the HOAs can still regulate placement of the panels for aesthetics.
    Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Yu says his early experiences led him to chase achievement as a way of protecting a younger version of himself.
    Ernestine Siu, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cover. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.

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