covers 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of cover
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as in substitutes
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 shields
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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covers

2 of 2

noun

plural of cover
1
as in lids
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 canopies
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 covers
Verb
The current ordering period covers missions through December 2032. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026 Deborah Haynes covers serious stuff, like foreign affairs, national security and defense — the sorts of topics that might not make good fodder for a snarky newsletter or a hot-talk podcast. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026 None of these methods are permitted by the Board, whose two-day trainer course covers the risks of dehydration significantly, pointing out that even the slightest drop in fluids impairs performance. Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 The analysis covers the nation's 50 largest metro areas by population. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026 Angela George covers trending news for the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 3 Sep. 2026 Based on FactSet’s definition of second-quarter reporting, which covers companies with fiscal quarters ending in May, June, or July, Nvidia and Micron are projected to be the largest contributors to the S&P 500′s overall profit growth. CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 The Netflix series covers the same timespan as A Pup Named Scooby-Doo, though presumably with less doo-wop. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Artwork by Larry Poons covers one wall, and many of Burnett’s dozen-plus Grammys line the shelves of another. Caroline Randall Williams, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
The city advises residents to check things like flowerpots, pet bowls, bird baths, pool covers and other items a couple of times a week for standing water that needs to be dumped. Kaitlyn McCormick, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 The category spans low-risk swaps like cabinet hardware, decorative outlet covers, plug-in lighting, tension rods and static-cling window film, plus higher-risk projects like peel-and-stick wallpaper, accent-wall paint and mounted TVs. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2026 Christie Brinkley is known for her megawatt smile, her voluminous blonde hair, and her not one, not two, but three consecutive Sports Illustrated covers—an unprecedented number in the magazine’s history. Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 8 Sep. 2026 Cakes Body has become a $100 million business selling nipple covers and boob tape. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026 Then, in 2020, a Rolling Stone article revealed the model to be Louisa Livingstone, who’d also appeared on the covers and in art for Queen and British rock band Fair Weather. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2026 Their day began with the country sounds of the River Road Trio and continued with a set of classic rock, pop and disco covers by Bottomz Up. Jim Dudlicek, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026 These include styles made of hardwood and kiln-fired frames as well as easy-to-clean upholstery and covers. Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026 Color color color Another month of books, another month of book covers. Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covers
Verb
  • This approach substitutes information for sensation, and reduces both human and supra-human experiences to the level of data.
    Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
  • So Tuchel, who always substitutes his wingers after roughly an hour, decided to withdraw Gordon and bring on an extra defender, Ezri Konsa.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Bring to a boil over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 40 minutes.
    ABC News, ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Toss with pasta; if necessary, add remaining pasta water to create a light sauce that coats pasta.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 23 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Bumble and bumble’s Heat Shield mist is made to be sprayed onto dry hair before a flat iron, curling iron, or other hot tool, providing essential UV protection that shields color.
    Polly Blitzer, Glamour, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The death penalty in the state has largely been tied up in litigation over an agreement related to the coronavirus pandemic that defense lawyers contend temporarily shields many death row residents from execution.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The film concerns a bus full of French high-school seniors on a trip to Pompeii, where the long gaze of history meets their hormonal entanglements and a bunch of Freudian desire.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 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
Verb
  • The snail’s diminutive size, however, conceals a massive secret.
    Carrie Arnold Contributing, Quanta Magazine, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Co-created by Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, Blue Eye Samurai follows the story of Mizu, a samurai who conceals her gender and mixed-race heritage after facing a life of discrimination, on a personal quest for revenge.
    Jess Weatherbed, The Verge, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • This fourth full-length from the London jazz quintet traverses Black diasporic sound traditions — grime, reggae, Afrobeat — mulling over the question of how music so joyous can be rooted in histories of pain.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Reliever optimizes availability After taking his head out of the cold tub, Blubaugh traverses the bowels of Daikin Park.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • For instance, BlockBlock, the software that monitors Macs for processes that seek to permanently install themselves, can block ClickFix attacks as soon as a user presses the ⌘+V keys.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Data from the Interior Ministry reflects crimes that are formally reported or detected by police, while the FCJE monitors incidents collected from community members, social media and other sources.
    Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • William tells me Saint Michael is the angel that protects soldiers, police officers, and firefighters.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
  • That approach protects young people and preserves access for adults who have already made the choice to move away from cigarettes.
    Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Covers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covers. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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