Coveting
/ˈkʌvɪtɪŋ/
verbB2present participle
Definition
Coveting is the feeling or action of wanting something very much that belongs to another person. It usually involves a strong desire mixed with jealousy or envy. People covet things like possessions, qualities, or status that they do not have but wish to have.
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⚡ See It in Action
Strong desire to have something that belongs to another person
- •She was coveting her neighbor’s beautiful garden.
- •He couldn’t stop coveting his colleague’s promotion.
- •Many people covet wealth and luxury items they don’t own.
(In moral or religious context) Desire considered wrong or sinful because it involves jealousy or greed
- •The commandment says, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.”
- •Coveting is often seen as a negative feeling that can lead to bad actions.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "coveting" like "wanting" (A1 word), but much stronger and focused on what belongs to someone else
- ✓Picture a person looking at a shiny new phone in their friend's hand, feeling a strong, quiet wish to have it for themselves
- ✓It's the feeling when you see a toy or prize that you really like but someone else owns it, and you wish it was yours
- ✓Sounds like "COVE-it-ing" → imagine a secret small cave (cove) where someone hides their secret desires, quietly wanting what others have
- ✓Think of stories where characters want something forbidden or not theirs, like the "Ten Commandments" warning against coveting others' things
- ✓NOT like "like" or "want" (which are general and can be about anything)—coveting is about wanting what belongs to others, often with jealousy
- ✓NOT like "admire" (respect without desire to own)—coveting wants to take or have the thing, not just appreciate it
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Desire: strong feeling of wanting something (Use when the feeling is strong but not necessarily about others’ possessions)
- •Envy: wanting what others have, often with unhappiness (Use when emphasizing jealousy and negative feelings)
- •Long for: to want something very much (Use in emotional or poetic contexts)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: covet (root) + -ing (present participle suffix)
- •Etymology: From Old French "coveitier," from Latin "cupiditas," meaning desire or greed
- •Historical development: Originally meant strong desire or greed, often with a moral or religious sense about wanting what belongs to others
- •Modern usage: Used to describe strong, often secret or jealous desire for others’ possessions or qualities
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Have you ever coveted something someone else had? How did it make you feel?
•Why do you think coveting is often seen as a negative feeling in many cultures?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She was coveting ___ friend’s new car because she wanted one just like it.
2.Coveting often leads to feelings of ___ and jealousy rather than happiness.
3.Unlike simply wanting, coveting involves a strong desire for something that ___ to someone else.
4.The commandment warns people not to covet ___ neighbor’s belongings or family.
5.People who are coveting usually try to keep their feelings ___ because it can be seen as wrong.
6.When someone is coveting a promotion, they might feel ___ toward the person who got it.
7.Coveting can cause problems because it sometimes leads to ___ or unfair actions.