Meaning & use
covered
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“covered” is a form of “cover”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Having something laid over the top to protect, hide or close it.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a covered pot, the pot is covered.
Patterns
- covered with something
- covered in something
Keep the covered dish in the oven until dinner.
The covered walkway kept us dry in the rain.
The sofa was covered with a thick blanket.
adjectiveafter a verb
Having a layer of something all over the surface.
Grammar: Usually followed by in or with: covered in mud.
Patterns
- covered in something
- covered with something
The children came home covered in mud.
The hills were covered with snow.
His hands were covered in paint.
adjectiveafter a verbbusinessfinance
Protected by insurance or an agreement against loss or damage.
Grammar: Used after be: you are covered, the damage is covered.
Patterns
- covered by something
- be covered for something
You are covered if your flight is canceled.
Is flood damage covered by this policy?
The treatment is not covered under his plan.
adjectiveafter a verbinformal
Dealt with or included, as in a topic in a course or in a task someone has handled.
Grammar: Often used informally to mean sorted out: don't worry, it's covered.
Patterns
- it's covered
Don't worry about the food, it's covered.
That topic is covered in chapter four.
Word forms
| base verb | cover |
|---|---|
| past tense | covered |
| -ing form | covering |
Common combinations
- covered in
- The car was covered in dust.
- covered by insurance
- The repair was covered by insurance.
- covered market
- We bought cheese at the covered market.
- covered up
- The mistake was covered up for years.
- fully covered
- Your trip is fully covered by the policy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- insured
- Insured applies only to protection by insurance, while covered can also describe a physical layer.
- coated
- Coated suggests a thin layer spread over a surface, not simply anything placed on top.
- sheltered
- Sheltered stresses protection from weather or danger, rather than having a physical layer.
- protected
- Protected is wider and includes safety from harm in any form, not just a covering.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: covered or covert?
covered vs covert
Covert means secret or hidden, as in a covert operation. Covered means having a cover on it.
Practice
Which sentence uses covered in its insurance sense?
Choose one answer.
Covered by the policy means the loss is protected by insurance. The other sentences describe a physical layer or roof.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “covered”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.