What does coveting mean?
Coveting describes the act of intensely desiring something that belongs to someone else — a house, a job, a talent, or a relationship. It functions both as a verb, describing ongoing desire, and as a noun naming that desire itself. Because the word is anchored in the Tenth Commandment of the Hebrew Bible, it carries a distinctly moral charge: to say someone is coveting usually implies their wanting has crossed a line into impropriety. In everyday speech, however, people use it more casually and sometimes playfully, admitting they are "coveting" a friend's new phone or a colleague's corner office without any real sense of wrongdoing. Related terms include covetous (adjective) and covetousness (noun), which describe a habitual disposition toward such desires rather than a single act of wanting. Understanding coveting helps distinguish ordinary admiration or aspiration from the deeper, more troubling impulse to take what rightfully belongs to another.
To yearn to possess something belonging to another person.
"He was coveting his brother's classic car collection throughout the family reunion."
Often used with a moral connotation, particularly in religious contexts.
A feeling of inordinate desire for something owned by another.
"His coveting of the promotion became obvious to everyone in the office."
Less common than the verbal use; often replaced by 'envy' or 'longing'.
Coveting is one of the few everyday words enshrined in ancient moral law — it appears as the Tenth Commandment, making 'don't covet' over three thousand years old.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coveting
Coveting derives from the Old French verb "coveter," meaning to desire or strive for, which itself traces back to the Latin "cupiditas," from "cupere" (to desire). The word entered English in the medieval period and was firmly embedded by its role in translations of the Ten Commandments. Cognates include "cupidity" (greed for wealth) and "concupiscence" (strong sexual desire), all stemming from the same Latin root expressing intense longing.
Related word forms
How coveting is actually used
"Coveting" carries a strong moral or religious connotation due to its prominence in biblical law, so using it often implies disapproval. In secular contexts it can be used more lightly or even humorously to describe harmless envy of possessions or status.
Easily confused with coveting
Craving is typically an intense desire for food, substances, or experiences, while coveting specifically refers to wanting something that belongs to someone else.
Envy involves resentful longing for what another has, whereas coveting is the desire to possess it oneself, often without the accompanying resentment.