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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in coats
to form a layer over
by morning a foot of snow covered the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in concerns
to have (something) as a subject matter
this section of the book covers kitchen makeovers for the enterprising do-it-yourselfer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in conceals
to keep secret or shut off from view
covered the foxhole with grass and leaves
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in traverses
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
7
as in monitors
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
8
as in protects
to drive danger or attack away from
covered the wounded soldier until he could be rescued from the downed chopper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in safeguards
means or method of defending
provided cover while their comrades ran for safety
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sheaths
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
4
as in replacements
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
5
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in shrouds
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
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
Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 30 May 2026
The long hemline covers the lower back for most wearers, sealing out drafts on chilly planes.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
The 8th Congressional District covers Greeley and a small chunk of Larimer County and then heads south into Adams County, taking in several suburban communities north of Denver, including Commerce City, Thornton and Northglenn.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
The fireball expands out and covers the entire launch pad as the fuselage of the rocket can be seen crumbling into the flames.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026
The film, adapted from a play with the same title, covers the tense, make-or-break forecasting and decision-making that happened in the 72 hours before the first troops set foot on Normandy’s beaches.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Check back for updates Ryan Anderson covers higher education across the state.
—Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 29 May 2026
Gabriel and Saliba complement each other brilliantly; while one scraps, blocks and clears, the other sweeps, covers and builds with the ball.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Irene Wright covers politics in Georgia as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
With their success came modeling gigs, magazine covers and an army of adoring fans.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
That includes throw rugs, sheets, blankets, pillow covers, and beds your pet uses, says Bryant.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Last race weekend, the kitchen did 150 covers at 3 am.
—Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Plus, her covers never disappoint.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Getting covers and shades for windows is another way to keep heat from absorbing into your home, the federal energy agency said.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 May 2026
There’s a parade of VHS covers, marketing materials, merchandising tie-ins, declining box office reports, and inevitably, a flurry of blogs both detailing the series’ homophobia and transphobia, and attempting to reclaim it.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 13 May 2026
This leads to communal warmth under the covers, though not in any romantic way, the sanctuary of companionship is what these two share.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Verb
The lot of the property covers an area of 12,517 square feet.
—Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 30 May 2026
The long hemline covers the lower back for most wearers, sealing out drafts on chilly planes.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026
The 8th Congressional District covers Greeley and a small chunk of Larimer County and then heads south into Adams County, taking in several suburban communities north of Denver, including Commerce City, Thornton and Northglenn.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 29 May 2026
The fireball expands out and covers the entire launch pad as the fuselage of the rocket can be seen crumbling into the flames.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026
The film, adapted from a play with the same title, covers the tense, make-or-break forecasting and decision-making that happened in the 72 hours before the first troops set foot on Normandy’s beaches.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 May 2026
Check back for updates Ryan Anderson covers higher education across the state.
—Ryan Anderson, Arkansas Online, 29 May 2026
Gabriel and Saliba complement each other brilliantly; while one scraps, blocks and clears, the other sweeps, covers and builds with the ball.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 29 May 2026
Irene Wright covers politics in Georgia as the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Noun
This month, despite the spring of it all, my favorite covers were strange and dark, their meanings obscure.
—Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 29 May 2026
With their success came modeling gigs, magazine covers and an army of adoring fans.
—Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
That includes throw rugs, sheets, blankets, pillow covers, and beds your pet uses, says Bryant.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 28 May 2026
Last race weekend, the kitchen did 150 covers at 3 am.
—Rachel Dube, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
Plus, her covers never disappoint.
—David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 26 May 2026
Getting covers and shades for windows is another way to keep heat from absorbing into your home, the federal energy agency said.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 May 2026
There’s a parade of VHS covers, marketing materials, merchandising tie-ins, declining box office reports, and inevitably, a flurry of blogs both detailing the series’ homophobia and transphobia, and attempting to reclaim it.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 13 May 2026
This leads to communal warmth under the covers, though not in any romantic way, the sanctuary of companionship is what these two share.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for covers
Verb
-
But no technology substitutes for the human infrastructure, partnerships, and political will that made the old system work.—
Stephanie Psaki,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
-
It is offered as rationale for below-market compensation, as though mission alignment is a form of currency that substitutes for pay.—
Charles Stanton,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
On the palate, the whiskey delivers a medium-to-full-bodied texture with a pleasantly oily mouthfeel that coats the tongue without feeling heavy.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
Return the egg mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and coats a spatula (about 170 degrees Fahrenheit).—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
High-shine and hydrating, Supergoop’s Glow Gloss Lip Balm shields the lips under a nonsticky, sheer gloss finish, available in Vanilla Soft Serve, Pink Peppermint, Strawberry Spritz and now Caramel Glaze.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
23 May 2026
-
This movement generates Earth’s magnetic field, which shields our planet from harmful cosmic radiation.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Spielberg’s latest, like some of his earliest and most beloved films, again concerns what might fall from above.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
-
The closest analog to what Blue Origin is attempting to do, therefore, concerns the rebuild of Space Launch Complex-40, which was largely destroyed by the AMOS-6 failure.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
This sleepy surface conceals the racial and religious tensions between locals and the transient workers who cross the border for employment.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
-
In Vidal’s telling, the trashy sensationalism of Hearst’s proto-clickbait conceals a tremendous political power.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
The highway traverses the ancestral homelands of more than 25 tribal nations.—
Jasmine Desiree,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Over an efficient five tracks, West traverses the sonic styles of her generation — from nu-metal riffs to rage-rap 808s — with dazzling confidence.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The maritime authority that monitors shipping in the region, the UKMTO, had earlier said a vessel had been struck in the Persian Gulf, about 40 nautical miles southeast of the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
The series wasn’t directly based on a Rice book but centered on her in-universe secret society that monitors supernatural beings and whose representatives (like Justin Kirk’s Raglan James) have shown up in IWTV and The Mayfair Witches.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Structure protects relationships by establishing expectations before they are needed.—
Sharon Olson,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Reaching out to a reputable debt relief professional while the account is still in collections, rather than in court, gives you more time to find a resolution that protects your income.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Covers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covers. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
