jealous
Americanadjective
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feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages (often followed byof ).
He was jealous of his rich brother.
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feeling resentment because of another's success, advantage, etc. (often followed byof ).
He was jealous of his brother's wealth.
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characterized by or proceeding from suspicious fears or envious resentment.
a jealous rage; jealous intrigues.
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inclined to or troubled by suspicions or fears of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims.
a jealous husband.
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solicitous or vigilant in maintaining or guarding something.
The American people are jealous of their freedom.
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Bible. intolerant of unfaithfulness or rivalry.
The Lord is a jealous God.
adjective
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suspicious or fearful of being displaced by a rival
a jealous lover
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resentful (of) or vindictive (towards), esp through envy
a child jealous of his brother
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possessive and watchful in the maintenance or protection (of)
jealous of one's reputation
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characterized by or resulting from jealousy
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obsolete demanding exclusive loyalty
a jealous God
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an obsolete word for zealous
Usage
What does jealous mean? To be jealous is to feel resentment, bitterness, or hostility toward someone because they have something that you don’t. This feeling or the state of feeling this way is called jealousy. Jealous can describe someone who is feeling or is prone to jealousy. It can also be used to describe such a person’s thoughts or actions. Feeling jealous usually occurs as a result of someone owning something you want but can’t have or having achieved some kind of success that you want to achieve but have not been able to. This sense of jealous is very similar in meaning to envious. The word envy refers to a mostly negative feeling of desire for something that someone else has and you do not—like a mix of admiration and discontent. However, while envy is not necessarily malicious, jealousy usually implies a deeper resentment, perhaps because you feel that you deserve the thing more than the other person, or that it is unfair that they have it and you don’t. Jealous is also used in the context of romantic relationships to describe someone who feels hostility, uneasiness, or distress relating to the fear that their romantic partner will be unfaithful. This often involves opposition to others giving one’s partner positive attention. Being jealous in this way is considered very unhealthy in a relationship. The word is often used applied to partners who act this way, as in jealous husband or jealous girlfriend. Sometimes, jealous can mean vigilant in maintaining or guarding something. This sense of the word is often used in adverb form, as in The dragon jealously guarded the treasure. Example: If your friends feel jealous of you because of your success, they may not be your friends.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of jealous
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English gelos, jelous, from Old French gelos (compare French jaloux ), from Vulgar Latin zēlōsus (unrecorded), from Late Latin zēl(us) zeal + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
If you're jealous of someone, you want what they've got. This is one of the most basic human emotions, and it is not pretty. Don't be jealous of my good looks: you're cute too. Being jealous is among the least attractive things you can be. The word jealous is actually derived from a Middle English word related to zealous, which means emotionally intense. It conveys a sense of emotional pain at someone else's good fortune. Jealousy is a close cousin of envy, but it can also mean "fiercely guarding" — as in "I am jealous of the little money I've managed to make, so I'm not likely to blow it on a cheap toy."
Vocabulary lists containing jealous
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Older children, usually from seven upwards, can feel isolated or "quite jealous" of peers who haven't experienced loss, and grief can deepen as understanding grows, Sadie added.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
In response to the criticism, Patel has pretended that his detractors are just jealous of his girlfriend.
From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026
It showed that women don’t have to be jealous of each other.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
I’m jealous that Michigan has figured it out.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
I’m not saying he wasn’t a good player—and it wasn't that I was jealous.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
