To conceal something, especially wrongdoing or mistakes, or to place something over an object to hide it.
To hide something bad so nobody finds out about it, or to put something on top of another thing to hide it.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To deliberately hide or conceal wrongdoing, mistakes, or embarrassing information.
"The company tried to cover up the safety violations before the inspectors arrived."
There was a cover-up, no question about it.
— Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein, 'All the President's Men', referring to Watergate (1974)
To place something over a person or object to hide or protect it.
"She covered up the sleeping child with a warm blanket."
To dress so that most of the body is hidden, often for modesty or protection.
"In the heat, it seems counterintuitive, but covering up helps protect your skin from sunburn."
To cover something over physically — the literal sense is transparent; the concealment sense is idiomatic.
To hide something bad so nobody finds out about it, or to put something on top of another thing to hide it.
The concealment sense is extremely common in political, legal, and journalistic contexts. The noun 'cover-up' (hyphenated) is equally common. The literal sense (covering a body or object) is also in regular use.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "cover up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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