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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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
Turnout was higher for Republican primaries in the 5th Congressional District and in General Assembly races than in the 4th District race, which covers Fairfield county. Angela Eichhorst, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 For travel and action shooters, this means one compact unit covers immersive footage, standard social clips, and traditional action-cam duties. New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026 These days, Barker is known for the art that covers nearly every square inch of his body. Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 13 Aug. 2026 Mike Vorkunov, who covers the NBA and the business of basketball for The Athletic, told NPR's Michel Martin the sale would give Walter a substantial return in less than a year. Michel Martin, NPR, 13 Aug. 2026 The recall covers minifridges that were sold on both Cooluli's website and Amazon between January 2019 and October 2024 — for between $80 and $120. ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 Their conversation covers how pain serves an evolutionary purpose, how researchers measure pain and pleasure in the lab despite the absence of any objective biomarker, and how touch functions as a social and emotional signal, not just a sensory one. Quanta Magazine, 6 Aug. 2026 Reporter Nora Mabie covers Indigenous affairs for the Montana Free Press and says families leading the way in searches is quite common. Dateline Nbc, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2026 The Shelby County air permit for the first Colossus site covers 15 turbines and 247 megawatts and expires in January 2027. Güney Yıldız, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
And if the sheets are sorted but the rest of the bed could use some attention, our guides to the best duvet covers and quilts can help there too. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 12 Aug. 2026 Vogue's 2026 September issue is a nostalgic nod to one of its beloved covers of the past. Morgan Evans, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 Lombardi, who hails from Italy, will showcase a variety of his styles — from fingerpicking on an acoustic to electric guitar work with a drum machine — and distinct covers of recognizable songs. Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026 At 3rd Culture, visitors will find cushion covers, traditional Turkish linen towels (peshtemals), and lampshades covered in quirky, geometric patterns. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026 Malcolm Bruce and Kofi Baker — do excellent covers of their dads’ work in Cream. Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Old food, grime and dust was found on refrigerator handles, on floor sinks and on cold top covers. Vince Basada august 7, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026 These covers were respectively created by graphic designer Ben Denzer, freelance artist Patrice Sheridan (after an illustration by Thomas Colligan), and Penguin Associate Art Director Amanda Dewey. Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026 Unfortunately, not all porch furniture has removable covers that can be thrown in the wash. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 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
  • Add the fresh corn, okra, and diced tomatoes, cooking until the tomatoes break down into a sauce that coats the tender vegetables.
    Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The Mediterranean sun, at its apex, burns as white as the signature paint that coats most Mykonian homes.
    Nick Remsen, Vogue, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Homeowners selling a primary residence who meet certain IRS conditions can qualify for a tax break, known as the Section 121 exclusion, that shields up to $250,000 of profits for single filers and $500,000 for married couples filing jointly.
    Annie Nova,Sarah Agostino,Kelli Grant, CFP®, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Banning corporate cross-border stablecoins shields Pretoria’s currency controls at the direct expense of corporate productivity.
    Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • By identifying exactly what the frustration concerns before reacting, leaders are more likely to channel emotion toward fixing broken systems instead of attacking individuals.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Some users may not want their Twitch content used to train Amazon AI because of a lack of financial benefit, concerns that AI could cannibalize their business, or an aversion to the broader Amazon conglomerate.
    Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Throughout the Gospels, Jesus initially conceals his identity as the Messiah from even his closest disciples.
    John Blake, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
  • And to maintain the appearance of a conventional hardtail, the chassis uses Harley's Softail platform, which conveniently conceals the rear suspension.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 July 2026
Verb
  • In your periphery to the left, a spacewalker traverses the exterior of the station.
    Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 26 July 2026
  • The Golden State might be a West Coast utopia, but then Californians live on a fault line that traverses most of it.
    Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
Verb
  • The probe monitors the device’s instruction set for unauthorized modifications.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • An incident involving a container ship and military forces in the Gulf of Oman has been reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center, which monitors maritime security in that region.
    Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Careful handling protects both your energy and the relationship involved.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2026
  • At the Justice Department, the Office of Foreign Litigation protects American interests in thousands of proceedings around the world.
    Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

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

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