adjective
Related Words
See avaricious.
Other Word Forms
- covetously adverb
- covetousness noun
- noncovetous adjective
- noncovetously adverb
- overcovetous adjective
- overcovetously adverb
- uncovetous adjective
- uncovetously adverb
Etymology
Origin of covetous
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English coveitous, from Anglo-French, Old French; covet, -ous
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.
His covetous comments about Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, deepened concerns.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 28, 2025
Does she ever throws a covetous glance at Draper's set-up?
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2025
It’s gotten to the point where people in that world are covetous of an invitation from Michael Yon.
From Slate • May 11, 2024
“I’ve asked Ted Sarandos why he’s so covetous of awards: ‘You guys are really, really spending,’” says O’Neil.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2023
He had seen them on the kingsroad, troupes of mothers and children and anxious fathers who had gazed on his horses and wagons with covetous eyes.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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.
