What does covet mean?
To covet is to yearn intensely for something, particularly something owned by or belonging to another person. The word carries a distinctly moral charge: since the King James Bible rendered the Tenth Commandment as "Thou shalt not covet," it has implied a desire that oversteps rightful bounds — envy mixed with greed rather than innocent admiration. In everyday modern usage it appears in two main guises. As an active verb, it names private longing, often with a hint of impropriety: to covet a colleague's job, a rival's talent, or a neighbour's home. As the past participle "coveted," however, it flips into a compliment, marking prizes, positions, and honours that everyone wants — a coveted award, a coveted invitation. This duality makes the word unusually versatile: it can condemn the desirer or celebrate the desired. Related forms include the adjective "covetous," meaning greedy or grasping, and its derivatives "covetously" and "covetousness." For writers, covet offers a precise, evocative way to describe longing that stops just short of taking.
verbTo covet is to desire something intensely, especially something that belongs to another person.
- To want eagerly something that belongs to someone else or that one is not entitled to have.
- (Of things) to be highly desired by many people — used mainly in the passive participle 'coveted'.
"She had long coveted the corner office, watching colleagues come and go through its glass door."
"He secretly coveted his neighbour's vintage car, admiring it every time he walked past."
"The Booker Prize remains one of the most coveted awards in literature."
"Thou shalt not covet" made this little verb the star of the Tenth Commandment — one of the oldest moral warnings ever recorded.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of covet
Covet comes from Old French "coveitier," derived from Late Latin "cupiditare" (to desire), itself from Latin "cupere" (to long for). It entered Middle English around the 13th century and was firmly fixed in English consciousness by Wycliffe's and later the King James Bible's rendering of the Tenth Commandment. It shares its Latin root with such relatives as "cupidity" (greed), "concupiscence" (intense desire), and even "Cupid," the Roman god of desire.
Related word forms
How covet is actually used
Covet carries a strong moral or disapproving connotation, rooted in its biblical use, so it often implies wanting what one has no right to. The adjective 'covetous' describes a greedy person, while the participle 'coveted' describes something widely desired — a shift from blame to praise depending on which side of the desire you stand.