"covered by" vs "covered with"

Question

"covered by" vs "covered with"

Both 'covered by' and 'covered with' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Covered by' is used when the covering is the agent or source of the action, while 'covered with' is used when the covering is the material or substance used.

Last Updated: March 26, 2024

Use 'covered by' when the covering is the agent or source of the action. For example, 'The car was covered by snow.'

Examples:

The table was covered by a tablecloth.
The wall was covered by ivy.
The book was covered by a dust jacket.
The city was covered by a blanket of fog.
The cake was covered by a layer of frosting.

Alternatives:

blanketed by
shielded by
enveloped by
hidden by
protected by

Use 'covered with' when the covering is the material or substance used. For example, 'The table was covered with a cloth.'

Examples:

The floor was covered with a rug.
The cake was covered with chocolate frosting.
The wall was covered with graffiti.
The bed was covered with a warm blanket.
The book was covered with dust.

Alternatives:

coated with
dressed in
smothered in
laden with
flooded with

Answer 1

covered by

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

covered with

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"covered by" vs "covered with"

covered by

covered with

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