jealously
gb/d͡ʒˈɛləsli/ us/d͡ʒˈɛləsli/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B2
property
1
in a jealous romantic way
in a way that shows you are jealous about a partner
Usage pattern:
[do something] jealously; look at [someone] jealously; watch [someone] jealously
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse jealously (fear of losing someone/something you have) with enviously (wanting what someone else has).
Synonyms
possessively (Emphasizes wanting to control or keep someone.)
|
suspiciously (Highlights distrust rather than the feeling of jealousy itself.)
Antonyms
trustingly (Shows confidence rather than suspicion or jealousy.)
|
securely (Suggests feeling safe in the relationship.)
Collocations
look jealously
|watch jealously
|eye (someone) jealously
|stare jealously
|react jealously
|jealously check (someone’s) phone
|jealously accuse
|jealously cling
|jealously monitor
|jealously suspicious
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- He watched her talk to her ex jealously.
- She smiled, but her eyes flicked jealously toward his new colleague.
- They argued because he reacted jealously whenever she went out with friends.
Learner examples
- He looked at her jealously.
- She spoke jealously about his friend.
adverb
B2
property
2
in an envious, resentful way
in a way that shows you want what someone else has
Usage pattern:
[do something] jealously; look at [something] jealously
Common mistake:
Jealously can mean “enviously” in general contexts, but in relationship contexts it usually means fear of losing someone.
Synonyms
enviously (The most direct synonym for wanting what others have.)
|
resentfully (Adds a sense of bitterness or unfairness.)
Antonyms
admiringly (Focuses on respect rather than resentment.)
|
contentedly (Suggests being satisfied with what you have.)
Collocations
jealously compare
|look jealously at
|jealously resent
|jealously begrudge
|jealously criticize
|jealously compete
|jealously notice
|jealously dismiss
|jealously evaluate
|jealously comment
Themes
emotions
|social_life
|work
Examples
- He looked jealously at his friend’s new car.
- Some rivals spoke jealously about her rapid promotion.
- They listened jealously as he described his holiday abroad.
Learner examples
- I looked jealously at her new phone.
- He spoke jealously about my success.
adverb
C1
property
3
in a protective, possessive way
in a way that tries hard to protect something and not share it
Usage pattern:
jealously guard [something]; jealously protect [something]; keep [something] jealously
Common mistake:
This sense is common with guard/protect/keep and often refers to information, rights, privacy, or traditions—not only romantic feelings.
Synonyms
protectively (Stresses keeping something safe.)
|
closely (Often used for supervision/control, less emotional than jealously.)
Antonyms
openly (Implies making something available rather than restricting it.)
|
freely (Suggests willing sharing or easy access.)
Collocations
jealously guarded
|jealously guard
|jealously protect
|jealously keep
|jealously preserve
|jealously defend
|jealously control
|jealously maintained
|jealously held
|jealously protected
Themes
emotions
|business
|security
Examples
- The company jealously guarded its customer data.
- She jealously protected her privacy and rarely posted online.
- The family recipe was kept jealously within the household.
Learner examples
- They jealously guarded the secret.
- She jealously protected her work.
Grammar
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.