covet

Pronunciation

• enPR: kŭv′ĭt, IPA ^(key): /ˈkʌvɪt/

• Audio (UK)

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Verb

Plain form covet

Third-person singular covets

Past tense coveted

Past participle coveted

Present participle coveting

1. (transitive) If you covet something, you wrongfully or unreasonably want to have something that belongs to another person.

   Much of the nobility coveted the king's wealth and power.

2. (transitive) If you covet something, you eagerly want to get it.

   I think nearly every science fiction writer covets the Hugo Award, even if they wouldn't admit it.

3. (intransitive) If you covet, you wrongfully or unreasonably want a thing that belongs to another person.

   We should not covet, but be grateful for what we already have.

Related words

• covetable
• coveted
• coveter
• covetingly
• covetous
• covetously
• covetousness