coveted
Americanadjective
-
wrongfully or inordinately desired.
Pizarro led a party of conquistadores in an attempt to discover El Dorado—the source of the coveted gold of the Incas.
-
highly or eagerly wished for.
The Green Building Council's gold certification is a coveted prize for sustainable building design.
verb
Other Word Forms
- uncoveted adjective
Etymology
Origin of coveted
Explanation
Coveted means "in demand" or "desired." If the most coveted seat on the bus for you is the one right next to the bathroom, then you shouldn’t have any problem getting it because most people don't want it. Coveted comes from the Latin cupiditas, meaning "passionate desire, eagerness, ambition." Cupid isn't always involved, though — coveted is another way of saying "sought after." The poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox said, “If you are seeking health, wealth, usefulness, skill in any direction, there is nothing and no one who can hinder your attainment of the coveted boon, if you are willing to work and wait." So get to work for all that coveted health and wealth!
Vocabulary lists containing coveted
100 SAT words Beginning with "C"
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The Kite Runner
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This Week in Words: September 29 - October 5, 2018
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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.
In West Hollywood, Barry Raccio is also host to a highly coveted mattress store sound bath.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
Sounds of the Universe, in London's Soho, was the only place in the British capital to receive the coveted records, which were sold in a plain white sleeve without any reference to the Stones.
From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026
The dwelling offers exclusive access to “one of the most private and coveted beaches in Malibu,” as well as spectacular views of the ocean courtesy of its perch atop a cliffside.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026
They made a beeline to the gift shop for the one prize more coveted than a green jacket: a garden gnome.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
It felt great to finally contribute to our wins and help the team capture the coveted state championship title.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
