Covet
verb /ˈkʌvɪt/ — To yearn intensely to possess something that belongs to another.
Definition
To yearn to possess or have (something, especially something belonging to another); to desire strongly, particularly with envy of another's possession.
Beyond the definition
Covet is the desire that knows it wants what it cannot have — and specifically what belongs to someone else. The tenth commandment made it a sin; the market economy made it an engine. To covet is to want with awareness that the wanting is inappropriate, and to want anyway.
Origin & history
From Old French coveitier (to covet, desire), from Vulgar Latin cupiditare, from Latin cupiditas (desire, lust). Related to Cupid — the god of desire.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She coveted nothing of his life and loved him for who he was in hers.
The most coveted invitation in the city was to his salon — he invited very few and refused many.
There is a way of coveting another life that is actually dissatisfaction with one's own.
How to use it
This entry uses a verb. Follow the examples for tense and any objects or prepositions it needs.
Choose “Covet” when the meaning fits your context: To yearn to possess or have (something, especially something belonging to another); to desire strongly, particularly with envy of another's possession.
Synonyms
desire, crave, envy, lust after
Antonyms
disdain, reject, disregard
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Adults Wishing Across The Room
Two adults stand at opposite sides of a crowded room, sharing a brief, intense, and longing look without moving toward each other.
Coveting is the intense yearning to possess something. This scene depicts the frustration of unsatisfied wanting, where the emotional barrier between the individuals turns the desire for connection into a source of envious longing.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Covet" mean?
Covet is verb meaning: To yearn intensely to possess something that belongs to another.. To yearn to possess or have (something, especially something belonging to another); to desire strongly, particularly with envy of another's possession.
Where does the word "Covet" come from?
From Old French coveitier (to covet, desire), from Vulgar Latin cupiditare, from Latin cupiditas (desire, lust). Related to Cupid — the god of desire.