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Definition of covernext
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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

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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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cover

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noun

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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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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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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
Madeline Mitchell's role covering women and the caregiving economy at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal and Journalism Funding Partners. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 At least 10% of the capacity of those centers must be allocated to vulnerable people, with fees regulated or covered by the government. Sarah Moreno updated April 29, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
In the nearly four years since the Georgia Guidestones were blown up under the cover of darkness, little has surfaced about the attack. Thad Moore, AJC.com, 28 Apr. 2026 When shots were fired, hundreds of attendees ducked under tables or took cover inside the ballroom before being evacuated, and the event was subsequently postponed. Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cover
Verb
  • These changes were to be achieved by increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreasing the consumption of meat and eggs, and substituting nonfat milk for whole milk.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
  • This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Lightly coated with oil and tossed occasionally in a searing hot skillet or wok, even tough beans turn silky, and ready to coat in a finishing blast of chiles.
    The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 May 2026
  • Crispy, minty and coated in chocolate, these addictive treats consistently remain the Girl Scouts’ bestseller.
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While Metcalf’s Linda adopts a facade of stoicism to shield her family from the grief erupting in her, Abbott’s Biff is forced to reveal the broken man behind the defiant veneer.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The southern façade, for instance, is entirely solid—no windows, no openings—to shield the interior from the most brutal solar rays.
    Nick Mafi, Architectural Digest, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • There’s a lot to be concerned about.
    Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The king’s visit with a deeply divisive American president, who himself has been compared to a monarch, threatens to further divide Americans concerning the British royals.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The indictment follows a probe by House Republicans into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic that scrutinized Morens’ email communications and accused him of intentionally concealing records.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Police found the device concealed in the vehicle’s wheel well before the investigation was turned over to the department’s Detective Bureau, Podgorski said.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The numbers also highlight how Safonov is making cross claims or sweeping outside his box more than twice the rate Chevalier is, although the Frenchman is more adept with his feet, playing more passes, completing a higher rate.
    Tom Burrows, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
  • But in a bleak youth job market, there’s a growing recognition that crossing the graduation stage is not always enough to put young people on a path to gainful employment.
    Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The bill includes limits on how many vehicles one remote operator can monitor at a time.
    Kenny Choi, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The police were patient, monitoring major criminals planning huge drug shipments and murders in real time.
    Ed Caesar, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The best carry-ons are durable enough to protect delicate items inside and withstand wear and tear, compact yet spacious enough to meet airline guidelines while providing room for all your essentials, and lightweight enough to lift into overhead bins.
    Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The two then embarked on a torrid love affair, but the dynamic between them shifted violently when Nancy discovered that her husband was actually trying to protect her rather than divorce her.
    Max Gao, Variety, 29 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cover. Accessed 1 May. 2026.

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