envy
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.the feeling of wanting what someone else has.
n.a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.
Simple“She felt a sharp pang of envy when she saw her friend's new house.”
In context“The promotion of his younger colleague filled him with a bitter sense of envy that he struggled to conceal during the meeting.”
PitfallI have envy for his new car. I feel envy toward his new car.While 'envy' is a noun, it is more natural to say you 'feel envy toward' something or simply 'envy' it as a verb.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person or thing that people admire and want for themselves.
n.a person or thing that is the object of envious notice.
Simple“His beautiful garden was the envy of the whole neighbourhood.”
In context“The startup's rapid growth and high profit margins made it the envy of the local tech industry.”
UsageOften used in the phrase 'the envy of'.
Synonymspridecynosure - 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to wish that you had the same qualities or things as someone else.
v.to feel envy toward someone or their possessions; to begrudge someone their success.
Simple“I don't envy him the long commute he has to do every morning.”
In context“While many might envy her fame, few would enjoy the constant lack of privacy that comes with it.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb and takes a direct object.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a very old-fashioned word for deep hatred or bad feelings toward someone.
n.malice, ill-will, or enmity toward another person.
Simple“The old stories tell of a king who acted out of pure envy and spite.”
In context“The protagonist's downfall was brought about not by fate, but by the hidden envy of those he considered his closest allies.”
Antonyms
Etymology tree Old French enviebor. Middle English envie English envy From Middle English envie, from Old French envie, from Latin invidia (“envy”), from invidere (“to look at with malice”), from in- (“on, upon”) + videre (“to look, see”). Doublet of envie. Cognate to Proto-Slavic *zavistь (“envy”). Displaced native Old English æfest.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.