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
One person could cover a wider part of the process, provided that person understood how to work with AI and remained responsible for the final result. — Arthur Azizov, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026 To wrap the Brie, pick up each corner of the dough and cover the cheese, creating overlapping layers as needed. — ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Noun
The war also gave TASE cover to move its Sunday-to-Thursday trading to Monday through Friday. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026 For example, in August, they were spotted re-creating the group’s iconic Abbey Road album cover. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cover
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cover
Verb
  • If that doesn’t happen, the district will have to substitute equivalent cuts elsewhere.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Even a few tweaks on the experiment to substitute the heavy water for a layer of graphite would have failed, given the purity of the materials available.
    — Mike McRae October 06, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Light Cleansing Oil Have cleansing oils left your skin feeling coated in a greasy film?
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The baits are around the size of a matchbox and coated with fishmeal to attract raccoons.
    — Eva Flowe October 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In Flanagan‘s take, Margaret is fiercely committed to shielding Carrie from the world’s dangers and from her classmates’ cruelty, even becoming a parental advocate in their community and on social media.
    — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The installation at the military’s oldest active test base would help shield critical defense operations from wider grid failures.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Grimes is a longtime advocate of AI, particularly concerning its use in music.
    — Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The narrative structure is perhaps more linear now, even though this part of the story, concerning Pacciani, spans from 1951 to 1996, covering a massively long time frame.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • According to prosecutors, Ramirez, Niembro and others concealed from Nodus board members, executives and Puerto Rico banking regulators that investments and loans made by the institution benefited Ramirez and Niembro themselves.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The tax evasion charge involved concealing income and filing false tax returns for that year, according to the indictment.
    — Christopher Harris, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Each fall, Earth crosses different parts of this sprawling debris stream, producing the overlapping Northern and Southern Taurids and, occasionally, the larger fragments that create spectacular fireballs.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • None of its 2026 releases has crossed $100 million at the domestic box office.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Additionally, staffers in the agency’s information technology and human resources divisions said the Controller’s Office generally doesn’t monitor where employees telework.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Health authorities in Kenya have placed the country's border points on high alert and are monitoring for possible additional cases.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • In yet another battle between the states and social media platforms, Florida asked a state judge to order changes on Instagram and Facebook in an effort to protect young users.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Their bid to change their lives turns into a dangerous chase, and the friendship becomes the one thing protecting them.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cover.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cover. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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