cover 1 of 2

verb

ˈkə-vər How to pronounce cover (audio)
Definition of covernext
1
as in to substitute
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

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2
as in to coat
to form a layer over by morning a foot of snow covered the ground

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3
as in to shield
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to concern
to have (something) as a subject matter this section of the book covers kitchen makeovers for the enterprising do-it-yourselfer

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5
as in to conceal
to keep secret or shut off from view covered the foxhole with grass and leaves

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to cross
to make one's way through, across, or over we usually manage to cover a lot of ground in a single day

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7
as in to monitor
to pay continued close attention to (something) for a particular purpose I'll cover the reception desk while you take a break

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8
as in to protect
to drive danger or attack away from covered the wounded soldier until he could be rescued from the downed chopper

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cover

2 of 2

noun

1
as in lid
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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2
as in defense
means or method of defending provided cover while their comrades ran for safety

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in covering
something that encloses another thing especially to protect it put the restaurant menus in clear plastic covers so that they would last longer

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4
as in replacement
a person or thing that takes the place of another people may only skip their shifts if they find a cover for themselves first

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5
as in roof
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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6
as in veil
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

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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 cover
Verb
Debris covered streets and searchers continued to dig in the rubble for possible victims, while more than 40,000 people remained in tents, evacuation centers and makeshift shelters. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026 One incident, three OpenAI blogs, each covering something different. — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
Recently, my dad discovered these non-slip couch covers that protect the upholstery on their couches from dirty paws. — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 17 Aug. 2026 Alongside a kaiseki set menu, the limited covers, sunset views and marine life moving through the water below make for an exceptional experience. — Lela London, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cover
  1. substitute
  2. coat
  3. shield
  4. concern
  5. conceal
  6. cross
  7. monitor
  8. protect
Verb
  • Larson and his people were dismissive of Bronin’s campaign and seemed to think contempt could substitute for substance.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Alaves' Ángel Pérez was reprimanded by coach Quique Sánchez Flores after being substituted and punching the bench several times.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of substitute
Verb
  • Trump’s desire, which is to coat the granite facade with white paint, has been met with significant pushback from historians who say that covering the historic building’s granite exterior with paint could trap moisture and damage the stone.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Last year’s winner was the Crab and Mozzarella Arancini, which included Maryland blue crab meat, white rice with herbs and mozzarella coated in Italian breadcrumbs, served with marinara sauce.
    — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of coat
Verb
  • The clash underscores the broader difficulties Europe faces in shielding its firms from China’s industrial policies, which Brussels has blamed for costing European jobs.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Civil rights advocates warn the insurance would further shield officers from accountability, even as sheriffs welcome new protections amid rising lawsuits and gaps in existing coverage for immigration enforcement work.
    — Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of shield
Verb
  • Roy can’t escape one difficult question, however, concerning his plans for what’s next after his contract’s up at the end of the season.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 Aug. 2026
  • And while early-onset Alzheimer’s is rare, that doesn’t mean women should ignore changes that genuinely concern them.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of concern
Verb
  • The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court convicted Hui, also known as Xu Jiayin, and Evergrande of engaged in large-scale financial fraud in inflating the group’s assets and concealing its liabilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • That concealed the actual removal of the lettering for POTUS.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of conceal
Verb
  • An average of about 13 ships crossed the Strait each day last week, the firm said in a post on X, down from more than 100 ships per day before the recent conflict.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • All eyes now turn towards negotiations between Iran and Oman expected to resolve how ships cross Hormuz.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of cross
Verb
  • Between 60% and 70% of new Ebola cases are being detected among people who were not already being monitored as contacts, meaning health workers may only discover infections after patients become sick and have had opportunities to expose others.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Cardiff had their problems under Malaysian businessman Tan but not nearly as many as Wednesday, whom Storch had been advised to monitor 12 months before his eventual takeover.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of monitor
Verb
  • As the Green Lantern, Hal has the power to create material items through his ring, and acts as an intergalactic space officer protecting humanity from extraterrestrial threats.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Meta has introduced a slew of new features in recent years designed to protect minors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of protect

Phrases Containing cover

Browse Nearby Words

covens
cover
coverage
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Cite this Entry

“Cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cover. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cover

Nglish: Translation of cover for Spanish Speakers

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