Covet Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms covet American [kuhv-it] / ˈkʌv ɪt /

verb (used with object)

1. to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others.

   to covet another's property.

   Antonyms: renounce

2. to wish for, especially eagerly.

   He won the prize they all coveted.

verb (used without object)

1. to have an inordinate or wrongful desire.

covet British / ˈkʌvɪt /

verb

1. to wish, long, or crave for (something, esp the property of another person)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See envy.

Other Word Forms

• covetable adjective
• coveter noun
• covetingly adverb
• uncoveting adjective

Etymology

Origin of covet

First recorded in 1325–1350; Middle English coveiten, from Anglo-French coveiter, Old French coveit(i)er, from unattested Vulgar Latin cupiditāre, verbal derivative of Latin cupiditās cupidity

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There are bouts of jealousy when one child gets into a coveted school or has a side playdate.

From The Wall Street Journal

Last offseason, the market for star third baseman Alex Bregman was softer than he had anticipated, in part because any team that signed him was forced to sacrifice a coveted draft pick.

From The Wall Street Journal

She will be up against British trio Flo for the coveted prize, who have been nominated for their debut album, Access All Areas.

From BBC

He previously won the coveted album of the year prize at the 2023 ceremony, for his third record, Harry's House.

From BBC

She, too, only ended up in a coveted exit-row seat on a flight to Sacramento on Sunday because of it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• crave
• envy
• lust after

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.