covers 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of cover
1
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 problem is that many business owners assume their personal auto policy fully covers these activities. — Kaitlyn Gomez, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026 Before subscribing, compare the websites each service covers, its removal process, ongoing monitoring features and subscription costs. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Local 2010, covers 1,100 skilled trades workers within the system. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Why washable sofa covers matter for pet owners A sofa that doubles as a dog bed collects fur, drool and the occasional accident. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026 Now in its second year, the guide covers North and South Carolina, along with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. — Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2026 Known for his high-energy demeanor, his livestream content covers gaming, sports, stunts and travel. — Jack Dunn, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026 Columbine Valley Police Department covers Bow Mar and did not provide any details beyond South Metro Fire's update that officials were looking for the suspect. — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 The agenda covers the producer responsibility plan, contingency planning, plan termination, revocation of a PRO’s status and annual reports. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
There are also ephemera like posters, budgets, song lyrics, book covers, event flyers and elementary school report cards. — Jennifer Rich, The Conversation, 28 Oct. 2026 The Grip allows for the Switch 2’s kickstand to extend, and a big advantage here compared with most third-party console covers is that the case is thin enough to allow for docking with Nintendo’s first-party dock. — Cameron Faulkner, The Verge, 26 Oct. 2026 Tint covers and frames that block the plate numbers are not allowed. — Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2026 One day, surfaces like skyscraper windows, car roofs, and smartwatch covers could silently generate clean electricity using these tiny chemical locks. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026 Armrest covers handle the high-use areas that wear out first and double as a coordinated accent. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026 Alta’s digital covers will be graced by digital avatars of celebrities while the inside is said to feature in-depth interviews. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026 Continuing his meteoric and unique rise in entertainment, Druski — who graced one of Billboard’s 2025 covers — will be the first-ever digital content creator to host SNL in the show’s history. — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026 Since there was never money for a designer, the iconic Ardis covers were all designed by Ellendea herself. — Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covers
Verb
  • Then, with one click of a Copy button, the website quietly substitutes a command that could put your Mac at risk.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Verb
  • Also, if one coats the surface of a daguerreotype with a layer of gold, the colors shift more to the red side of the spectrum.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Mixing the flour with cold butter first coats the flour’s proteins, impeding the interaction between the water and the flour and reducing gluten development.
    — Melissa Weller, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • His broader indictment was directed at the incentives governing the technology industry and Section 230, which largely shields social media companies from liability for content posted on their sites.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Cold-Sensitive Perennials Plants that struggle with low temperatures in your area can benefit from a mulch layer that shields their roots from extreme cold.
    — Macie Stump, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Kurt's key takeaways What concerns me most is how much someone can learn about you without ever meeting you.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • One such puzzle concerns the origin of uncertainty, chance and probability, which are so central to quantum mechanics.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But the tragedy conceals something nobody knows, and the falsehoods about Jung-hyun keep growing.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The three-word message conceals the depth of a man worthy of dissection.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • And Wheeler stuck to his principles with this list, one that mostly traverses North Oak Trafficway as cheaply (and deliciously) as possible.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In just over eight hours, the train traverses Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, beginning with the towns of Naperville, Princeton, and Galesburg, Illinois.
    — Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Leaders, therefore, need clarity about who owns the technology and data, who controls access, who monitors risk and who has authority to make consequential decisions.
    — Chandini Sheeba, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Amazon said its threat intelligence team had detected attempts to exploit the vulnerabilities before they were publicly disclosed, using its MadPot threat detection system, which monitors suspicious activity across internet-facing infrastructure.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The lawsuit argues the change violates the Administrative Procedure Act because it was adopted without explanation and the First Amendment, which protects lawyers' ability to advise people of their legal rights and seek prospective clients.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The arrangement does not grant Indigenous peoples ownership of the sea or seabed, but protects the area’s ancestral uses, including fishing, shellfish and seaweed gathering, as well as access to sacred sites and areas used for navigation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Covers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covers. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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