English Reference

Word

cover

Phoneticscov·er, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈkəvɝ/

UK/kˈʌvɐ/

Definitions

01to place something over

A2 · Elementary

v. to put something over another thing to hide or protect it.

v. to place something over or upon an object to conceal, protect, or enclose it.

“Please cover the food with a cloth to keep the flies away.”

“The workers had to cover the fresh concrete with heavy plastic sheets to prevent it from drying too quickly in the midday sun.”

Antonyms

02to include or deal with

B1 · Intermediate

v. to include a subject or a certain amount of information.

v. to have within one's scope or purview; to address a specific range of topics or data.

“The first chapter of the book covers the history of the city.”

“The introductory lecture covers the fundamental principles of thermodynamics before moving on to more complex industrial applications.”

Antonyms

03to pay for

B1 · Intermediate

v. to have enough money to pay for something.

v. to be sufficient to pay for a cost or to provide the necessary funds for an expense.

“Ten dollars should be enough to cover the cost of lunch.”

“The grant was specifically designed to cover the travel expenses and accommodation for the visiting researchers.”

Synonyms

fundfinancepay for

04to travel a distance

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to travel a certain distance.

v. to traverse or pass over a specific distance or area.

“We covered over thirty miles on the first day of our hike.”

“The search party managed to cover the entire northern quadrant of the forest before the heavy fog made further progress impossible.”

Synonyms

05to replace someone

B1 · Intermediate

v. to do someone else's work while they are away.

v. to act as a substitute or replacement for a colleague during their absence.

“Can you cover my shift on Friday evening? I have a doctor's appointment.”

“The department head asked if any senior staff could cover the afternoon seminars while the professor was attending the conference.”

06outer part of a book

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. the outside part of a book, magazine, or CD.

n. the protective outer layer of a publication or recorded media, typically made of heavier paper or cardboard.

“The book has a beautiful blue cover with gold letters.”

“The publisher decided to redesign the front cover to appeal to a younger demographic of readers.”

Synonyms

07protection from view or fire

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Military

n. a place where you can hide or stay safe from danger.

n. physical terrain or objects that provide protection from enemy observation or fire.

“The soldiers ran for cover when the rain started to fall heavily.”

“The infantry moved from cover to cover, using the dense undergrowth to remain invisible to the scouts on the ridge.”

Antonyms

08insurance

B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Law British English

n. protection provided by an insurance company.

n. financial protection provided under the terms of an insurance policy.

“Does your travel insurance provide cover for lost luggage?”

“The policy offers comprehensive cover against fire, theft, and accidental damage for all equipment stored on the premises.”

09new version of a song

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Music

n. a new version of a song that was originally recorded by someone else.

n. a new performance or recording of a previously released song by a different artist.

“The band played a great cover of an old Beatles song.”

“While the original track was a slow ballad, the band's cover transformed it into an upbeat dance anthem.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

10a lid or top

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. something that is put over an opening or an object.

n. a lid, top, or fitted cloth used to close an opening or protect an item.

“Make sure the cover of the trash can is closed tightly.”

“The custom-made pool cover was designed to withstand heavy snow loads during the winter months.”

Synonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “cover” in context.

Verb

01. cover period

“The insurance policy will cover the period from January to December.”

verb + noun

02. cover variety

“The new textbooks cover a variety of topics related to modern history.”

verb + noun

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Italic *kom Proto-Italic *kom- Latin con- Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epi Proto-Indo-European *h₂wer- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Latin operiō Latin cooperiō Old French covrirbor. Middle English coveren English cover From Middle English coveren, borrowed from Old French covrir, cueuvrir (modern French couvrir), from Late Latin coperire, from Latin cooperiō (“I cover completely”), from co- (intensive prefix) + operiō (“I close, cover”). Displaced native Middle English thecchen and bethecchen (“to cover”) (from Old English þeccan, beþeccan (“to cover”)), Middle English helen, (over)helen, (for)helen (“to cover, conceal”) (from Old English helan (“to conceal, cover, hide”)), Middle English wrien, (be)wreon (“to cover”) (from Old English (be)wrēon (“to cover”)), Middle English hodren, hothren (“to cover up”) (from Low German hudren (“to cover up”)). According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the original sense of the verb and noun cover was “hide from view” as in its cognate covert. Except in the limited sense of “cover again”, the word recover is unrelated and is cognate with recuperate. Cognate with Spanish cubrir (“to cover”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

Idioms

Domains

LawMilitaryMusicSports

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784EikenEikenTest in Practical English ProficiencyThe English proficiency test from the Eiken Foundation of Japan, widely taken by Japanese students. Grades run from 5 to 1, with Pre-1 and Pre-2 between them.Grade 2
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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