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 verdict, handed down last Friday, covers claims brought by the family of Kealon Gilmore, who was killed, and wounded survivors including Jazmin Anderson, who was shot in the head, according to the statement. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026 Christopher Lowe, the shark lab’s director, is searching for funding, whether from foundations, private donors or corporations, for the shark safety program, which covers 500 miles of coastline from Morro Bay to the Mexican border. Kori McNair, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 Plus, purchase protection covers a new item against damage or theft. Ryley Amond, CNBC, 16 July 2026 The largest of the debris aprons covers 50 square miles (130 square kilometers), which would be large enough to bury a small city or a large town. Keith Cooper, Space.com, 16 July 2026 So, with a podcast that covers so many topics, what does the pair think people need to calm down about? Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 15 July 2026 That alert covers the urban corridor from Douglas County to Larimer and Weld counties, including the Denver and Boulder areas. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 July 2026 Don't go into a basement, or any room, if water covers the electrical outlets or if cords are submerged. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026 The panel covers historical context, logistics, and the economic impact of filming in San Diego. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2026
Noun
The company now manufactures everything from canvases and rope covers to skirts and branding, shipping across Europe, Africa, North America and the Middle East. Chris McKenna, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Even American culture’s misguided attempt at welcoming the object through a decades-long foray into plush toilet covers elicits reflective disgust. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026 The ride is less convincing, with the suspension becoming fidgety over potholes and drain covers, and noticeable body roll through corners. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026 Place vent covers or protective barriers along your chimney or vents to keep them out. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 Combine crop rotation with row covers for even better results. Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026 Some covers are machine-washable, though removable doesn’t always mean machine-safe. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026 The recall notice posted this week by the agency says that certain vehicles' roof rail covers may detach, resulting in a road hazard. Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 17 July 2026 Aside from the covers maintained by the city’s Department of Environmental Protection, there are thousands more belonging to Con Edison, National Grid, Verizon and AT&T, among others. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 17 July 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
  • They’re formed when a grain of grit enters an oyster’s shell, and the mollusk coats that irritant with layer after layer of nacre.
    ByKaren R. McDaniel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Bring to a low boil, then cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 more minutes until the sauce coats the chicken bites.
    Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Verb
  • Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act shields these companies from legal responsibility for such content.
    Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 15 July 2026
  • Malware protection shields your devices from harmful sites, and automatic updates keep your defenses current.
    StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Bradač’s proof concerns off-diagonal Ramsey numbers, which allow for large differences between the size of a clique and the size of an independent set.
    Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 15 July 2026
  • Lyndsy Fonseca, rapper Russ, Tom Cavanagh, Hunter King, Joseph Lee Anderson and Rob Riggle star in the indie film, which concerns a group of campers who run into a nasty, giant, prehistoric spider.
    William Earl, Variety, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • Advertisement Best of all is Deutch’s Gail, whose sunbeam demeanor barely conceals her flirty, mischievous side.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
  • This style helps to prevent moisture loss and conceals your ends to avoid breakage.
    Aleah Wright, InStyle, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Completed in 2010, the bridge traverses extensive agricultural land and urban areas, allowing trains to bypass road crossings while maintaining high operating speeds.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 July 2026
  • The ride traverses nearly 1,000 miles across Indiana over 13 days, stopping in communities to meet with survivors, those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty, and visit memorials and gravesites.
    Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • The company is starting with a small number of markets chosen in collaboration with its partner, AppliedXL, a tech firm that monitors and predicts study outcomes.
    Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 July 2026
  • Eco effort The hotel monitors its energy consumption and carbon footprint, recycles, and tries to use local products.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026
Verb
  • The left side of the offensive line also now protects the quarterback’s blind side, as is normally the case.
    David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 July 2026
  • And just an easy 30-minute drive from downtown, the Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve protects one of Alabama’s most important coastal ecosystems.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Covers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covers. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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