Definition of coveringnext

covering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of cover
1
as in substituting
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

2
3
as in shielding
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
5
6
7
8

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 covering
Noun
According to the legend, Lady Godiva’s long hair served as a covering on her ride. Michele Metychall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 July 2026 Since just after its discovery, the hole has been secured by a makeshift covering of plywood and two-by-fours donated by Hartford Lumber Co. Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
Verb
The main, and only inhabited, island of the chain is essentially a 40-square-mile volcano, and the few hundred residents live in its lone settlement, Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, which sits on a plateau covering about four square miles. Jessica Hopkins, New York Times, 17 July 2026 Weedy vines are the scourge of many shrub plantings, covering them with unwanted foliage that causes their decline. Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for covering
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covering
Noun
  • Healy wore a classic black tuxedo, while Bechtel was dressed in a glamorous white gown with a traditional veil.
    Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
  • Today, Mars is wrapped in an atmosphere little more than a thin veil that is 100 times thinner than Earth's and slowly leaking into space.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • To further the house’s connection to nature, Wright used flagstone flooring inside and out and employed large sheaths of glass windows for visual continuity.
    Elizabeth Fazzare, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026
  • During his burial, an iron sword in a leather sheath was placed across his chest, with a spear next to him.
    Adam England, PEOPLE, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • In the early days of the republic, there were many radicals and reformers who shared my suspicion that patriotism was an evasion, substituting songs and speeches about liberty for the reality.
    Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026
  • Run an empty load with hot water, substituting white vinegar for detergent.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Handle heavy pans like cast-iron gently to keep them from banging on the grates and avoid chipping their enamel coating.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 12 July 2026
  • But the real pleasure is the 303 basslines that squirm in between the drums, coating the soundscapes of the tracks in grime and noxious soot.
    Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • Their defensive work isn’t about shielding the back line, but about being proactive — Morocco were trying to launch a break here, but Rabiot stepped in to intercept and put France on the attack shortly before Mbappe curled home.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 10 July 2026
  • As a result, as premiums rise, so do subsidies, shielding many consumers from rising prices but also raising costs for the federal government.
    Rachel Spears — KFF Health News, STAT, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Those were the two most common applications of the rules concerning an unplayable ball, but a third option was available to Spieth.
    Brody Miller, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The finding is concerning as space debris at such high altitudes behaves differently from that circling closer to Earth.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • According to police, Black entered the store wearing a ski mask and concealing a short barrel AR-style rifle under his clothing, then accused Johnson of stepping on his shoe.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 July 2026
  • She was found not guilty of concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • There was no zigzagging across the continent, traversing borders or altitude concerns.
    Adam Crafton, New York Times, 16 July 2026
  • Mulching can also create barriers that ivy will have difficulty traversing.
    Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 15 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Covering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covering. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on covering

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster