cover 1 of 2

verb

ˈkə-vər How to pronounce cover (audio)
Definition of covernext
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

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2
as in to coat
to form a layer over by morning a foot of snow covered the ground

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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5
as in to conceal
to keep secret or shut off from view covered the foxhole with grass and leaves

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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?

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2
as in defense
means or method of defending provided cover while their comrades ran for safety

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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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

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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

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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

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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
Both wore Christian Louboutin heels covered in crystals, per WWD, along with body-hugging, ankle-length dresses. — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 8 Sep. 2026 Families that appear stable and hardworking sometimes cannot stretch their earnings to cover both rent and groceries, especially as the cost of living rises unevenly. — Christine Franz, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Noun
The mop even retracts into the chassis, which extends a cover over it to eliminate contact with carpets. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 5 Sep. 2026 Aryna Sabalenka stopped a match because, apparently, the stadium smelled more like weed than your neighbor’s van with the Dio album cover airbrushed on the side. — Matt Reigle Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cover
  1. substitute
  2. coat
  3. shield
  4. concern
  5. conceal
  6. cross
  7. monitor
  8. protect
Verb
  • The 29-year-old was substituted in the second half of last Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat against Como and requires corrective surgery for a medical condition that Napoli have confirmed is a mild, benign arrhythmia.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Writing in a raccoon, in turn, meant setting aside the time to both film with an actual raccoon — his name is Rocket, of course — and devise ways for the show to substitute a prop animal for scenes where the actors might directly interact with it.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • That fire extends to the drinks, too, with live coals coated in olive oil that is then used in the spot’s Martini.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Turn the dough to coat it, then cover the container with plastic wrap or its container lid.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of coat
Verb
  • Scores of immigrants from El Salvador who have been shielded from deportation for decades because of ongoing violence and natural disasters in their homeland could now face removal from the United States after their benefits expire Wednesday.
    — Ted Hesson, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Particularly after Venice’s break with the papacy in the early seventeenth century, the government went to great lengths to shield judaizers from the Inquisition’s glare and recast the Ghetto as a refuge.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of shield
Verb
  • The optimism around Cincinnati about the Bengals in 2026 has crossed the threshold from cautious to concerning.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Much of it concerns Landau’s relationship with eventual wife Nora, played by actress and TV presenter Radmila Schegoleva.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, IndieWire, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of concern
Verb
  • Jordan sewed sage green curtains to conceal additional storage spaces and further brighten the space.
    — Lina Abascal, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • However, repeated or deliberate attempts to conceal or falsify a bettor's location are treated differently.
    — Mike Winters, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • The Bills are keeping their fingers crossed that Hairston or Igbinosun becomes that answer.
    — Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Migration remains one of the most heated political issues in Britain, despite the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats falling to its lowest level since 2020, according to the Home Office.
    — Kara Fox, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of cross
Verb
  • Electron diffraction provided another way to monitor the crystal structures as defects developed.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Subramanyam said his calls were monitored between March and May, noting that at the time the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee was pushing for former Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of monitor
Verb
  • Brughmans’ work outside of protecting his own goal is equally interesting.
    — Matt Pyzdrowski, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Rice lipids and jojoba oil seal in moisture and replenish the skin barrier, while 2% ectoin soothes redness and protects against water loss.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of protect

Phrases Containing cover

Browse Nearby Words

covens
cover
coverage
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Cite this Entry

“Cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cover. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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