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

Bombas Return Policy Bombas’ Happiness Guarantee covers free returns, exchanges, and replacements—including free shipping. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2026

Hayes pulled down the bandana that covered his face and revealed himself to be the latest WWE superstar to align himself with the 946. — Ryan Gaydos Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

The war also gave TASE cover to move its Sunday-to-Thursday trading to Monday through Friday. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026

For example, in August, they were spotted re-creating the group’s iconic Abbey Road album cover. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing cover

• cover (up)