envy
gb/ˈɛnvi/ us/ˈɛnvi/
B1
English
~ 3800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
jealous desire for another's advantages
The unhappy feeling you have when you want what another person has.
Usage pattern:
feel envy toward [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'envy' with 'jealousy'; 'envy' is about wanting what you do not have, while 'jealousy' can be about protecting what you have.
Synonyms
jealousy (Often used interchangeably, but 'jealousy' can also mean fear of losing something you already have.)
Antonyms
admiration (A positive feeling of respect and approval rather than resentful desire.)
Collocations
feel envy
|cause envy
|with envy
|green with envy
|envy of
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She looked at her friend's new car with envy.
- His talent is the envy of his classmates.
- The luxurious lifestyle of celebrities often inspires envy.
Learner examples
- I felt envy when I saw her dress.
- He has the envy of many people at work.
- Her singing voice makes me feel envy.
Verb
B1
state
2
to feel resentful desire for another's things
To want something that another person has and feel unhappy about it.
Usage pattern:
envy [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly say 'envy for someone' instead of 'envy someone'. The verb does not require 'for'.
Synonyms
covet (Stronger and more formal; often implies inappropriate desire.)
Antonyms
respect (To regard positively without wanting to take or have what they have.)
Collocations
envy someone
|envy something
|envy their success
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- I envy your ability to stay calm under pressure.
- She envied her brother's confidence.
- They envied their neighbor's beautiful garden.
Learner examples
- I envy his new phone.
- She envies her friend's job.
- Many students envy his good grades.
Grammar
Dictionary form
envy
IPA
GB/ˈɛnvi/
US/ˈɛnvi/
Syllables & stress
envy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (envy)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: envy
- Plural: envy
Verb
- Base: envy
- 3rd Person Singular: envies
- Present Participle: envying
- Past: envied
Word family
Forms
envies
verb
envying
verb
envied
verb
Core family
envious
adjective B2
enviously
adverb
Related words
enviable
adjective C1
enviably
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
unenviable
adjective C1
Expressions
make someone green with envy
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn ɡɹˈin wˈɪθ ˈɛnvi/
idiom
informal
cause intense envy in someone
To make someone feel very jealous because you have something they want.
Examples
- Her vacation photos made me green with envy.
- Winning the award made his friends green with envy.
the envy of [someone]
1/ðə ˈɛnvi əv sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
something greatly desired by others
Something that many people wish they had.
Examples
- Her cooking skills are the envy of the neighborhood.
- The school's library is the envy of other institutions.
green with envy
1/ɡɹˈin wˈɪθ ˈɛnvi/
idiom
informal
very jealous of someone or something they have
Feeling very jealous of someone because they have something you want.
Examples
- She was green with envy when she saw his new car.
- When she saw his new sports car, she was green with envy.
- He turned green with envy after hearing about her promotion.
- He was green with envy when he heard about her promotion.