cover
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cover, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cover
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French covrir, from Late Latin coperire, ultimately from Latin cooperiō ("to cover completely") — built from co- (intensive prefix) plus operiō ("to close, cover").
Full origin of cover →Frequently asked questions
What does “cover” mean?
The word “cover” means to place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it. In plain terms, to put something over or protect something, to deal with a topic, to be enough money for something, or (as a noun) the outer face of a book or a re-recorded version of a song.
How do you pronounce “cover”?
“Cover” is pronounced KUH-vuh (/ˈkʌvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “cover” in a sentence?
Here is “cover” used in a sentence: “She covered the leftovers with plastic wrap.”
What part of speech is “cover”?
Depending on how it is used, “cover” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “cover” come from?
The word “cover” comes from Late Latin. From Old French covrir, from Late Latin coperire, ultimately from Latin cooperiō ("to cover completely") — built from co- (intensive prefix) plus operiō ("to close, cover").
Is “cover” a common word?
“Cover” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “cover” have?
“Cover” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to place something over another thing to protect, conceal, or shield it.
What is the difference between cover and hide?
To cover something is to place a layer over it, which may protect, shield, or conceal it. To hide is specifically to keep something out of sight. You can cover a table with a cloth purely for protection, but you hide something only when concealment is the actual goal.
What are common ways to use cover as a verb?
You can cover something to protect it, such as covering furniture with sheets; to conceal it, like covering a stain; or to shield it, as when you cover your face from the sun. The core idea is always placing one thing over another for a purpose.
What is an example of cover used in a sentence?
You might say, "Please cover the leftovers before putting them in the fridge," or "She covered the sleeping child with a blanket." In both cases something is placed over another thing to protect, shield, or conceal it, which is the essence of the verb.
What is the opposite of cover?
The most natural opposites are uncover, expose, and reveal. Where cover places a layer over something to protect or conceal it, these words remove that layer and bring the thing into view. "Uncover" is the direct reversal, while "expose" and "reveal" stress the resulting visibility.