jealous
gb/d͡ʒˈɛləs/ us/d͡ʒˈɛləs/
B1
English
~ 1600
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
state
1
feeling envy of others
Feeling bad or upset because you want what someone else has, or you want the same attention they get.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is jealous of [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'jealous' with 'envy'. 'Jealous' is usually about relationships and emotions, while 'envy' can be broader and more neutral.
Synonyms
envious (Often used interchangeably, though 'envious' can sound slightly more formal and less emotionally intense.)
Antonyms
admiring (Shows positive appreciation rather than resentment toward what someone else has.)
Collocations
jealous of
|make [someone] jealous
|a jealous look
|jealous feelings
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt jealous of her friend's new car.
- He became jealous when he saw her talking to another man.
- I'm jealous of people who can travel all the time.
- They were jealous of his success.
- Her jealous nature often caused arguments.
Learner examples
- I am jealous of my sister's new phone.
- He is jealous of my good grades.
- She feels jealous when I talk to other people.
- Tom is jealous of his brother's job.
adjective
B1
state
2
possessive in relationships
Not wanting someone you care about to give attention to anyone else.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is jealous about [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this meaning with simple envy of things; here it refers to protecting a relationship or loyalty.
Synonyms
possessive (Focuses more on controlling or owning in relationships, without necessarily implying envy of possessions.)
Antonyms
trusting (Willing to believe in someone's loyalty without suspicion.)
Collocations
jealous husband
|jealous girlfriend
|jealous behavior
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her boyfriend gets jealous if she talks to other men.
- He was jealous about his partner's close friendship with a colleague.
- A jealous spouse can make a relationship difficult.
- She grew jealous when her friend spent more time with others.
Learner examples
- My friend is jealous when I talk to other boys.
- He is jealous about his wife's new coworker.
- She feels jealous when her sister plays with other friends.
Grammar
Expressions
jealous streak
1/d͡ʒˈɛləs stɹˈik/
fixed phrase
habit of feeling jealousy
A part of someone's personality that often feels jealousy.
Examples
- He has a jealous streak that sometimes causes problems.
- Her jealous streak shows when she talks about her ex-boyfriend.
make someone jealous
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn d͡ʒˈɛləs/
fixed phrase
cause envy in someone
To do something that makes someone feel envy or possessive.
Examples
- She posted pictures from the party to make her ex jealous.
- He bought a new car just to make his neighbors jealous.
green with jealousy
1/ɡɹˈin wˈɪθ d͡ʒˈɛləsi/
idiom
extremely envious
Feeling very envious of someone or something.
Examples
- She was green with jealousy when she saw her friend's expensive dress.
- She was green with jealousy when she saw his new sports car.
- He turned green with jealousy after hearing about their vacation.
- He turned green with jealousy after hearing about her promotion.