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
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.
Now she’s in the mix for a coveted best new artist nod at the Grammys.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026
The hopefuls all want to leave the Highland village of Carrbridge carrying the Golden Spurtle, porridge making's most coveted award.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Dees’ star inside Goldman has hit new highs following several large dealmaking wins, including helping Goldman land the coveted lead-left role on SpaceX’s IPO.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
Beyond the apartment itself, its coveted downtown location places its next owner within easy reach of some of Manhattan’s best-known neighborhoods and attractions.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
“The window seats are free,” Seven said, running inside before someone else took the coveted location.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
