MEANING
To want something very strongly, especially something that belongs to another person.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- covet a position
- covet another person's success
On the page
He coveted neither her title nor her salary, only the freedom to leave.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- covet
- Past tense
- coveted
- Past participle
- coveted
- Present participle
- coveting
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- covet
- Present continuous
- am/is/are coveting
- Present perfect
- have/has coveted
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been coveting
- Past
- coveted
- Past continuous
- was/were coveting
- Past perfect
- had coveted
- Past perfect continuous
- had been coveting
- Future
- will covet
- Future continuous
- will be coveting
- Future perfect
- will have coveted
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been coveting
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: covet; covets; coveted; coveted; coveting Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: description, character. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: covets.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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