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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
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
5
6
7
8

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?

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
4
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

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
Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations, breaking news for USA TODAY. Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 4 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 The settlement covers the Gill case and claims involving about 2,000 other infants, according to Abbott. Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026 According to GoodRx, a CAC scan typically costs $100 to $400 out of pocket, since insurance rarely covers it. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 20 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
  • 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
  • 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
Verb
  • The impact of food recalls The FDA issued 26 food recall notices in August, and 94% of Americans say the frequency of recalls concerns them.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Cao’s deeper subject here concerns the wagers people make on their futures and, by extension, the ways risk is deferred and abstracted in our gamified, appified, casino-like present.
    Pablo Larios, Artforum, 1 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
  • But the scenery becomes especially dramatic once the train reaches Colorado and traverses the unique landscapes of the West.
    Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The drive traverses the Bear River Mountains (a northern branch of the Wasatch), passing aspen groves, limestone cliffs, and the whitewater eddies of the Logan River along the way.
    Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Separately, Helena Maleno, founder of the migrant rights group Walking Borders, which monitors deaths and disappearances on migration routes to Spain, reported that 83 people had died on the voyage, including three women and a baby.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Penn State researchers developed a wearable sensor that continuously monitors low rates of perspiration for lactate, a biomarker that can indicate oxygen starvation in tissues.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The feline panleukopenia vaccination also protects cats against two other common viruses — feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus.
    Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Florsheim’s argument has centered on Wisconsin’s Public Trust Doctrine, which protects public rights in navigable waters and the land beneath them.
    Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Covers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/covers. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster