covering

1 of 2

noun

cov·​er·​ing ˈkə-və-riŋ How to pronounce covering (audio)
ˈkəv-
Synonyms of coveringnext
: something that covers or conceals

covering

2 of 2

adjective

: containing explanation of or additional information about an accompanying communication
a covering letter

Synonyms of covering

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of covering in a Sentence

Noun with the commotion on the dance floor as a covering, we were able to slip out undetected the plastic coverings on lamp shades should be removed
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Their traditional decor centers around darker fabrics and pale wall coverings. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026 California became the first state to ban most law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings under a bill that was signed in September following a summer of high-profile raids by immigration officers in Los Angeles. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 Head coverings will also be barred, with exceptions for those that serve religious or medical purposes. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026 During her time there, Jamie worked with a broad range of actors across film and television, serving as both a covering agent and representing her own roster of clients. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for covering

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of covering was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing covering

Rhymes for covering

See All Rhymes for covering

Browse Nearby Words

cover in
covering
covering disease
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Covering.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/covering. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

covering

noun
cov·​er·​ing
ˈkəv-(ə-)riŋ
: something that covers or conceals

More from Merriam-Webster on covering

Nglish: Translation of covering for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All