begrudge

[ bih-gruhj ]

verb (used with object)

, be·grudged, be·grudg·ing.

1. to envy or resent the pleasure or good fortune of (someone):

   She begrudged her friend the award.

2. to be reluctant to give, grant, or allow:

   She did not begrudge the money spent on her children's education.

begrudge

/ bɪˈɡrʌdʒ /

verb

1. to give, admit, or allow unwillingly or with a bad grace
2. to envy (someone) the possession of (something)

Derived Forms

• beˈgrudgingly, adverb

Other Words From

• be·grudg·ing·ly adverb
• un·be·grudged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of begrudge¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bigrucchen; be-, grudge

Synonym Study

See envy.

Example Sentences

“Watching them rebuild with great ease, we didn’t begrudge them,” Sokol said.

From Los Angeles Times

“We do not begrudge doctors their pay rise,” RCN leader Prof Nicola Ranger says.

From BBC

"We don't want to begrudge people having a drink," he told the Daily Telegraph.

From BBC

And I begrudge every second spent taking Trump’s trolling seriously.

From Los Angeles Times

“We do not begrudge doctors their pay rise,” RCN leader Prof Nicola Ranger says.

From BBC

Related Words

• envy