Skip to main content
to cover

to cover

954 3.3
To report on a news event or topic
  • verb
  • /ˈkʌvər/
  • Literature
: cubrir
  • She was assigned to cover the annual festival for the local newspaper.
  • cover a topic
  • cover a range
  • cover a wide range

And the Free Press wanted to cover similar stories.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Gray Grantham covers the Supreme Court for the Washington Herald.

  • Every single outlet was covering this story.

  • So I think we pretty much covered that.

  • But we're going to try to cover them as well.

  • And the Free Press wanted to cover similar stories.

  • Yeah, I mean, we did cover this pretty recently.

  • So in this talk, I'm going to cover these five areas.

  • We turn now to our very own Talia Fields who has been covering this story on the ground.

  • We've got some great information to cover, so let's dive in.

  • The fifth factor, Multicultural Assessment, included those items that cover culturally appropriate and fair testing in schools.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

to deal
vsto cover
∞ 1.6

To handle a problem or person by taking action

is about reporting or discussing topics, not direct personal management
to report
vsto cover
∞ 1.6

To give information about something, often in writing or speech

is broader and includes discussing or dealing with topics in writing
to address
vsto cover
∞ 3.6

To deal with a subject in speech or writing

is broader and also used for reporting on events or areas
to report on
vsto cover
  • Literature
580 3.3

To give information about something, often in news or meetings

is more general and can mean discussing or dealing with a topic
to treat
vsto cover
287 3.5

To show or discuss a subject in a particular way

is more general and covers reporting or dealing with topics
to handle
vsto cover
41 2.8

Talk about a subject in speech, writing, or art

is more public and journalistic rather than just managing or discussing

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

Choose not to pay attention to someone or something

243 2.9

To not notice someone or something you should see

Idioms

to cover one's ass
  • Offensive
32 9.8

To take steps to protect yourself from blame, often by keeping records or blaming others

To deal with a larger area or more topics

Decide something about a person or thing by how they look

Phrasal Verbs

314 3.7

To hide something so people cannot see or find out about it

to cover for
  • Informal
156 4.4

To do or say something to hide someone's bad action

69 3.4

To move to a place that protects you from danger or bad weather

To come out of hiding into the open

To read every page of a book or magazine from start to finish

Compounds

cover-up
  • Literature
137 5.5

An attempt to hide a crime or scandal from the public

cover letter
  • Formal
16 3.5

A short letter you send with a job application to introduce yourself and say why you fit the job

15 3.4

The amount of sky covered by clouds

10 3.8

An attractive woman whose photo is on a magazine's front cover

air cover
  • Jargon
9 5.0

Military aircraft protect soldiers or ships from enemy attack during an operation

7 3.9

An extra fee each person pays to enter a restaurant or club, not for food and drink

A heavy round metal lid that covers an opening in a street or pavement

4 3.7

Plants that grow low and spread over soil to protect it in gardens

cover crop
  • Specialized
3 4.1

A crop grown to protect and improve soil

2 3.4

A new recording or performance of a song originally sung by another artist

2 5.9

A young man who appears on a magazine front cover as a fashion model

A new recording of a song that another artist made popular

A removable cloth or plastic layer that protects a mattress from dirt and spills

1 1.0

A large cloth that lies on top of a bed to protect it and make it look nice

An object placed over something to keep it safe from damage

cover plate
  • Specialized
1 4.8

A flat hard plate that closes an opening to protect the parts inside

1 3.1

A removable cover, often plastic or cloth, that protects machines like a printer from dust when not in use

1 3.0

A removable cap that protects a camera lens from dust and scratches

1 3.3

A book with thin, flexible paper on the outside rather than a hard cover

cover slip
  • Specialized
5.3

A small thin glass piece placed over a sample on a microscope slide to protect it and aid viewing

cover glass
  • Specialized
4.8

A thin flat piece of glass placed over a specimen on a microscope slide

cover glass
  • Specialized
3.4

A hard outer layer of glass that protects a device screen from scratches and drops

cover-slut
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who often makes new versions of other people's songs or who loves cover bands

A paper cover on a book that protects it and shows the title and author

A large cloth put over furniture to keep off dust

A material like carpet or wood placed on the floor to protect it and make it look nicer

A cardboard or paper sleeve that protects a vinyl record

A book with a flexible paper cover instead of a hard cover

How Thorough

to investigate
∞ 2.8
feature
  • Literature
155 3.1
to cover
  • Literature
954 3.3
report
∞ 1.3
to mention
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

cover infinitive
covered past
covered past participle
covering present participle
covers third person singular

Etymology

Cover meaning to report on a story comes from the idea of 'covering' an area or subject, as if a reporter spreads attention over the event; that's why journalists 'cover' news by being there and telling what happened.