covered; covering
ˈkəv-riŋ 
ˈkə-və-
1
a
: to guard from attack
b(1)
: to have within the range of one's guns : command
The ships were covering approaches to the harbor.
(2)
: to hold within range of an aimed firearm
The deputy covered the sheriff who was apprehending the suspect.
c(1)
: to afford protection or security to : insure
a policy covering the traveler in all kinds of accidents
(2)
: to afford protection against or compensation (see compensation sense 2) for
a policy covering loss by fire
d(1)
: to guard (an opponent) in order to obstruct a play
a linebacker assigned to cover the tight end
(2)
: to be in position to receive a throw to (a base in baseball)
The shortstop was covering second.
e(1)
: to make provision for (a demand or charge) by means of a reserve or deposit
Your balance is insufficient to cover the check.
(2)
: to maintain a check on especially by patrolling
motorcycle police covering the highways
(3)
: to protect by contrivance or expedient
2
3
: to lay or spread something over : overlay
Cover the seedbed with straw.
4
a
: to spread over
Snow covered the hills.
b
: to appear here and there on the surface of
a region covered with lakes
5
: to place or set a cover or covering over
Cover the pot.
6
a
: to copulate with (a female animal)
a horse covers a mare
b
: to sit on and incubate (eggs)
7
: to invest with a large or excessive amount of something
covered herself with glory
8
: to play a higher-ranking card on (a previously played card)
9
: to have sufficient scope to include or take into account
an examination covering a full year's work
10
: to deal with : treat
material covered in the first chapter
11
a
: to have as one's territory or field of activity
One sales rep covers the whole state.
b
: to report news about
reporters covering the campaign
12
: to pass over : traverse
The hikers covered 12 miles that day.
13
: to defray the cost of
cover expenses
14
: to place one's stake in equal jeopardy within a bet
15
: to buy securities or commodities for delivery against (an earlier short sale)
16
: to record or perform a cover of (a song)
1
: to conceal something illicit, blameworthy, or embarrassing from notice
—usually used with up
cover up for a careless coworker
2
: to act as a substitute or replacement during an absence
a stand-in covering for an injured star
often attributive
1
: something that protects, shelters, or guards: such as
a
: natural shelter for an animal
also
: the factors that provide such shelter
b(1)
: a position or situation affording protection from enemy fire
(2)
: the protection offered by airplanes in tactical support of a military operation
c
British
: coverage sense 1a
2
: something that is placed over or about another thing:
b
: a binding or case for a book or the analogous part of a magazine
also
: the front or back of such a binding
c
: an overlay or outer layer especially for protection
a mattress cover
d
: a tablecloth and the other table accessories
e
f
: roof
g
: a cloth used on a bed for warmth or for decoration
—usually used in plural
lying under the covers
h
: something (such as vegetation or snow) that covers the ground
i
: the extent to which clouds obscure the sky
3
a
: something that conceals or obscures
under cover of darkness
b
: a masking device : pretext
The project was a cover for intelligence operations.
4
: an envelope or wrapper for mail
5
: one who substitutes for another during an absence
6
: a recording or performance of a song previously recorded by another performer
Synonyms
Examples of cover in a Sentence
Verb
The gardener covered the soil with mulch.
The furniture had been covered in a protective cloth.
We covered the stains on the wall with a fresh coat of paint.
You should cover your mouth when you cough.
She covered her head with a scarf.
tables covered with white linen
Lakes cover much of the state.
The hikers covered long distances every day.
The bird may cover thousands of miles during its migration.
Noun
She placed a cover over the pan so that the oil wouldn't spatter.
I put a cover on the sofa to protect it.
There's a picture of the author on the book's back cover.
The singer is posing in jeans and cowboy boots on the album cover.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tovia Smith, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
Why the Senior Assassin Game Is a Cause for Concern
For a better chance at winning, some students disguise themselves by wearing ski masks, headgear designed to cover the face except the eyes or mouth.
—Jazmin Towe, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024
Taylor Swift Announces 'Fortnight' Featuring Post Malone Is First Tortured Poets Single: 'Can't Wait for You Guys to Hear'
Over the years Puth has been open about his admiration for Swift, often covering her songs during his shows.
—Melody Chiu, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
There’s a lot of ground to cover over the seven-year homestretch to ratification, and Taub and director Leigh Silverman barrel through it efficiently and effectively with artful modulations of intensity, humor, sadness, spunk and joy.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Oil floated on the Gulf and washed ashore, covering plants, birds and other animals.
—Travis Loller, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
There are 149 Florida restaurants in the guide, covering 38 types of cuisine.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest.
—Alex Sundby, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
Look up:Here's when every full moon shines in 2024
John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2024
Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024
The 43-year-old actress and PEOPLE cover star was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2023 and underwent a double mastectomy 30 days later.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
In collaboration with Billboard U.S., Billboard Korea is set to roll out various content strategies, including publishing monthly digital covers of K-pop musicians as well as kicking off global promotions to support global activities of K-pop artists.
—Billboard Staff, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Its importance even transcends music: The album’s famed cover—featuring Nasir Jones as a child, with a photo of the Queensbridge Houses as the backdrop—has inspired visual artists.
—C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The singer posted an image of the album’s cover shortly after the announcement, along with seeming lyrics to one of the album’s songs.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
In the Great Barrier Reef marine park, 73 percent of the reefs surveyed have prevalent bleaching — which means that more than 10 percent of the coral cover is bleached, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which manages the area, said Wednesday.
—Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
On its box cover, after all, is one of Jun Takahashi’s spring 2024 Undercover terrarium dresses, complete with living plants, and, on the Paris runway at least, flitting butterflies.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024
Come the end of 2024, this will probably still stand as one of my favorite covers of the year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
Verb
Perhaps most contentious, the new rules also officially broaden the interpretation of Title IX to cover pregnant, gay and transgender students.
—Tovia Smith, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024
Why the Senior Assassin Game Is a Cause for Concern
For a better chance at winning, some students disguise themselves by wearing ski masks, headgear designed to cover the face except the eyes or mouth.
—Jazmin Towe, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024
Taylor Swift Announces 'Fortnight' Featuring Post Malone Is First Tortured Poets Single: 'Can't Wait for You Guys to Hear'
Over the years Puth has been open about his admiration for Swift, often covering her songs during his shows.
—Melody Chiu, Peoplemag, 19 Apr. 2024
There’s a lot of ground to cover over the seven-year homestretch to ratification, and Taub and director Leigh Silverman barrel through it efficiently and effectively with artful modulations of intensity, humor, sadness, spunk and joy.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
Oil floated on the Gulf and washed ashore, covering plants, birds and other animals.
—Travis Loller, Fortune Europe, 19 Apr. 2024
There are 149 Florida restaurants in the guide, covering 38 types of cuisine.
—Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024
In addition to editing content, Alex also covers breaking news, writing about crime and severe weather as well as everything from multistate lottery jackpots to the July Fourth hot dog eating contest.
—Alex Sundby, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2024
Look up:Here's when every full moon shines in 2024
John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 19 Apr. 2024
Noun
Published eight times each year, the Beige Book—named for the color of its cover—collects insights into the current state of the economy from on-the-ground interviews, reports, and surveys completed by each of the 12 Fed district banks.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 20 Apr. 2024
The 43-year-old actress and PEOPLE cover star was diagnosed with breast cancer in April 2023 and underwent a double mastectomy 30 days later.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
In collaboration with Billboard U.S., Billboard Korea is set to roll out various content strategies, including publishing monthly digital covers of K-pop musicians as well as kicking off global promotions to support global activities of K-pop artists.
—Billboard Staff, Billboard, 19 Apr. 2024
Its importance even transcends music: The album’s famed cover—featuring Nasir Jones as a child, with a photo of the Queensbridge Houses as the backdrop—has inspired visual artists.
—C. Brandon Ogbunu, WIRED, 19 Apr. 2024
The singer posted an image of the album’s cover shortly after the announcement, along with seeming lyrics to one of the album’s songs.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2024
In the Great Barrier Reef marine park, 73 percent of the reefs surveyed have prevalent bleaching — which means that more than 10 percent of the coral cover is bleached, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which manages the area, said Wednesday.
—Rachel Pannett, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2024
On its box cover, after all, is one of Jun Takahashi’s spring 2024 Undercover terrarium dresses, complete with living plants, and, on the Paris runway at least, flitting butterflies.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 18 Apr. 2024
Come the end of 2024, this will probably still stand as one of my favorite covers of the year.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cover.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near cover
Cite this Entry
“Cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cover. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
cover
1 of 2 verb
cov·er
ˈkəv-ər
covered; covering
ˈkəv-(ə-)riŋ
1
a
: to guard from attack
b
: to have within range of one's guns
c
: to provide protection to or against : insure
insurance that covers the traveler in any accident
the policy covered water damage
d
: to maintain a check on especially by patrolling
state police covering the highways
2
a
: to hide something from sight or knowledge
cover up a scandal
b
: to conceal something dishonest or embarrassing from notice
cover for a friend in an investigation
c
: to act as a substitute or replacement
covered for me during my vacation
3
a
: to spread or lie over or on
covered the child with a blanket
water covered the floor
b
: to put something protective or concealing over
cover the mouth while coughing
4
a
: to deal with
a test covering two chapters
b
: to provide or plan for
plans covering an emergency
5
a
: to have as one's territory or field of activity
one salesperson covers the whole state
b
: to report news about
covered the trial
6
: to pass over or through
covered 10 miles a day
7
: to pay or provide for the payment of
cover expenses
coverer
noun
-ər-ər
cover
2 of 2 noun1
: something that protects, shelters, or conceals (as a natural shelter for an animal or natural features that shelter or conceal)
2
a
: something that is placed over or about another thing (as the lid of a box or a sheet or blanket on a bed)
b
: a binding or case for a book or the front or back of such a binding
c
: something (as plants or snow) that covers the ground
3
: an envelope or wrapper for mail
Legal Definition
cover
1 of 2 transitive verb
cov·er
1
: insure
this policy covers other family drivers
2
: to give protection against or compensation or indemnification for
doesn't cover flood damage
: to obtain cover
where the seller anticipatorily repudiates a contract and the buyer does not cover—Cosden Oil & Chemical Co. v. Karl O. Helm AG, 736 F.2d 1064 (1984)
Cosden Oil & Chemical Co. v. Karl O. Helm AG, 736 F.2d 1064 (1984)cover
2 of 2 noun
: purchase of goods in substitution for those originally contracted for when the seller fails to fulfill the contract
the buyer is always free to choose between cover and damages for nondelivery—Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Commercial Code
also
: the substituted goods
Note: Under the Uniform Commercial Code, when a seller does not perform on a contract, the buyer has the option of covering, with the seller paying the difference between the cost of the cover and the original contract price, or seeking damages for nonperformance. Reselling is the seller's comparable remedy when a buyer does not perform under a contract.
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