envy

[ en-vee ]

noun

, plural en·vies.

1. a feeling of discontent or covetousness with regard to another's advantages, success, possessions, etc.

   Synonyms: enviousness

2. an object of such feeling:

   Her intelligence made her the envy of her classmates.

3. Obsolete. ill will.

verb (used with object)

, en·vied, en·vy·ing.

1. 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.

   Synonyms: resent

verb (used without object)

, en·vied, en·vy·ing.

1. Obsolete. to be affected with envy.

envy

/ ˈɛnvɪ /

noun

1. a feeling of grudging or somewhat admiring discontent aroused by the possessions, achievements, or qualities of another
2. the desire to have for oneself something possessed by another; covetousness
3. an object of envy

verb

1. to be envious of (a person or thing)

Confusables Note

Envy and jealousy are very close in meaning. Envy denotes a longing to possess something awarded to or achieved by another: to feel envy when a friend inherits a fortune. Jealousy, on the other hand, denotes a feeling of resentment that another has gained something that one more rightfully deserves: to feel jealousy when a coworker receives a promotion. Jealousy also refers to anguish caused by fear of unfaithfulness.

Derived Forms

• ˈenvyingly, adverb
• ˈenvier, noun

Other Words From

• en·vy·ing·ly adverb
• un·en·vied adjective
• un·en·vy·ing adjective
• un·en·vy·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of envy¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English noun envie, from Old French, from Latin invidia, equivalent to invid(us) “envious” (derivative of invidēre “to envy”) + -ia abstract noun suffix; verb derivative of the noun; invidious, -y ³( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of envy¹

C13: via Old French from Latin invidia, from invidēre to eye maliciously, from in- ² + vidēre to see

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. green with envy, full of envy; covetous:

   When my friends saw the enormous rock on my engagement ring, they were all green with envy.

More idioms and phrases containing envy

see green with envy .

Synonym Study

Envy, begrudge, covet refer to one's attitude toward the possessions or attainments of others. To envy is to feel resentful and unhappy because someone else possesses, or has achieved, what one wishes oneself to possess, or to have achieved: to envy the wealthy, a woman's beauty, an honest man's reputation. To begrudge is to be unwilling that another should have the possessions, honors, or credit that person deserves: to begrudge a man a reward for heroism. To covet is to long jealously to possess what someone else possesses: I covet your silverware.

Example Sentences

Harris could have constantly blared the truth about our economy being the envy of the world and then promised that we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

From Salon

He achieved far more legislatively than many thought possible, given the narrow margins Democrats held in the House and Senate, and presided over an economy that, partisan carping aside, is the envy of the world.

From Los Angeles Times

“The outlook is for more of the same with growth the envy of the world,” said Chris Rupkey, chief economist at Fwdbonds, a economic and markets research firm in New York.

From Los Angeles Times

“It has made our economy the envy of the world,” he said.

From BBC

Still, Roth Smith said, he’s not sure New Yorkers look to the other coast with envy — or at all.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• begrudging
• bitterness
• hatred
• ill will
• jealousy
• malice
• prejudice
• resentment
• rivalry

More About Envy

What does envy mean?

Envy is a mostly negative feeling of desire for something that someone else has and you do not.

Envy is not a good feeling—it can be described as a mix of admiration and discontent. But it’s not necessarily malicious. Envy is very similar in meaning to jealousy. However, 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.

Envy is also a verb meaning to have feelings of envy toward someone. It is always followed by the person or thing that’s envied, as in I must admit that I envy her talent. 

As a noun, it can also be used to refer to the object of envy, as in She was the envy of the entire office after getting the promotion. 

Someone who envies another person can be described as envious, as in I was envious of him and his popularity. Someone who’s very envious is said to be green with envy. Things that produce envy in others can be described as enviable, as in It’s an enviable position, with a lot of perks. 

Example: Other people’s perfectly curated social media feeds often cause us to feel envy, but we need to keep in mind that they don’t show the whole story of what someone’s life is like—only the highlights.

Where does envy come from?

The first records of the word envy come from the 1200s. It comes from the Latin invidia, a derivative of the Latin verb invidēre, meaning “to envy” or, more poetically, “to eye maliciously.”

Being full of envy often involves eyeing up other people’s qualities or possessions, especially when they are better or more plentiful than the ones you have. Envy is one of the so-called seven deadly sins and has long been considered one of the vices that can lead people to do bad things. Still, most people are thought to experience envy at one time or another. Envy can lead to bitterness, but it doesn’t have to. You can be envious of your friend’s success and still be happy for them. When you stop being happy for them and start to resent them for it, that’s jealousy.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to envy?

• envious (adjective)
• enviousness (noun)
• enviable (adjective)
• envyingly (adverb)
• unenvied (adjective)
• unenvying (adjective)
• unenvyingly (adverb)

What are some synonyms for envy?

• enviousness
• covetousness

What are some words that share a root or word element with envy? 

• green with envy
• invidious

What are some words that often get used in discussing envy?

• filled with
• success
• friends
• desire
• covet
• want
• feel
• resentment

What are some words envy may be commonly confused with?

• jealousy

How is envy used in real life?

Most people feel envy occasionally, but they usually only admit it when it’s not so serious.

Serious envy for future generations who would have the option of just …. turning them off. https://t.co/0rouvMSBGq

— Tanya 😷 (@HotDamnTee) July 17, 2020

While you can't control when you feel envy, you can choose whether to feel shameful about it or not. https://t.co/bVnkjWtMe9

— Harvard Business Review (@HarvardBiz) June 17, 2020

surround yourself by people who are happy for you & support you & love you & who don’t envy you.

— angela🌹 (@angelaasalazarr) July 21, 2020

 

 

Try using envy!

Is envy used correctly in the following sentence?

All the other interns envied me because I was the only one who got my own desk.