envy
a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.
an object of such feeling: Her intelligence made her the envy of her classmates.
Obsolete. ill will.
to regard (a person or thing) with envy: She envies you for your success.I envy your writing ability.He envies her the position she has achieved in her profession.
Obsolete. to be affected with envy.
Idioms about envy
green with envy, full of envy; covetous: When my friends saw the enormous rock on my engagement ring, they were all green with envy.
Origin of envy
1synonym study For envy
confusables note For envy
word story For envy
Latin invidia is a derivative of the verb invidēre “to look askance at, regard with ill will, be jealous of, cast the evil eye on.” Invidēre is a compound of the preposition and prefix in, in- “in, into, at” and the simple verb vidēre “to see.”
Other words for envy
Other words from envy
- en·vy·ing·ly, adverb
- un·en·vied, adjective
- un·en·vy·ing, adjective
- un·en·vy·ing·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with envy
- envy , jealousy (see confusables note at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use envy in a sentence
He still envies Adrian, who has taken control of his life and its narrative by ending it so early.
It will add ever so much to our fun—everybody I know simply loves and envies me my darling 'calico' pony!
Dorothy at Skyrie | Evelyn RaymondThere was little room in his mind for the envies of stronger men.
That Lass O' Lowrie's | Frances Hodgson BurnettBesides, I know how many envies still attack the reputation of this most eminent man.
Giovanni Boccaccio, a Biographical Study | Edward HuttonCarlo Nobis envies him also; but he has so much pride in his body that, purely from pride, he does not allow it to be perceived.
Cuore (Heart) | Edmondo De Amicis
Stupid Polish Majesty has his natural envies, jealousies, of a Brandenburg waxing over his head at this rate.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XV. (of XXI.) | Thomas Carlyle
British Dictionary definitions for envy
/ (ˈɛnvɪ) /
a feeling of grudging or somewhat admiring discontent aroused by the possessions, achievements, or qualities of another
the desire to have for oneself something possessed by another; covetousness
an object of envy
to be envious of (a person or thing)
Origin of envy
1Derived forms of envy
- envier, noun
- envyingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with envy
see green with envy.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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