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envy definition

envy (en′vē)

noun pl. envies -·vies

  1. a feeling of discontent and ill will because of another's advantages, possessions, etc.; resentful dislike of another who has something that one desires
  2. desire for some advantage, quality, etc. that another has
  3. an object of envious feeling
  4. Obsolete ill will; spite

Etymology: ME & OFr envie < L invidia < invidus, having hatred or ill will < invidere, to look askance at < in-, in, upon + videre, to look: see wise

transitive verb envied -·vied, envying -·vy·ing

to feel envy toward, at, or because of; regard with envy

intransitive verb

Obsolete to feel or show envy

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms envy idiom

envy Synonyms

envy

n.

jealousy, resentment, covetousness, rivalry, ill-will, spite, grudge, malice, enviousness, grudgingness, jealous competition, jaundiced eye, discontent at another's good fortune, backbiting, cupidity, greed, bitterness, invidiousness, maliciousness, lack of Christian charity, one of the seven deadly sins, bad sportsmanship, mean-spiritedness, lusting after another's goods, coveting another's possessions, desiring, hankering, longing, begrudging, invidia (Latin), the green-eyed monster*.


envy

v.

grudge, begrudge, covet, lust after, regard with envy, resent, have hard feelings toward, desire inordinately, crave, be envious of, feel resentful toward, hunger after, thirst after, desire, long for, yearn for, hanker after, be green with envy*.

to envy another is to feel ill will, jealousy, or discontent at the person's possession of something that one keenly desires to have or achieve oneself; begrudge implies an unwillingness that someone should possess or enjoy something that is needed or deserved; to covet is to long ardently and wrongfully for something that belongs to another


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

envy Usage Examples

Object

  • anyone: I just envy anyone who can run down my street.

Converse of object

  • arouse: They couldn't see that his goodness would arouse such envy.

Converse of subject

  • fuel: The " monster " is fueled by envy and can over time devour the trust and harmony in a relationship.

Modifies a noun

  • fuel: Christopher Macgowan: Politics of envy fuel 4x4 hatred Published: 04 July 2006 This is not a joke.

Modifying Another Word

  • sometimes: But whilst the rich sometimes envy the simpler life-style of the poor, those who are poor know the difficulties of making ends meet.

Noun used with modifier

  • penis: Better handling, better brakes and without the whole junior version of penis envy that the Chopper conveyed.

Preposition: of

  • world: Britain's museums are the envy of the world.
envy usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

envy quotes

Death†openeth the gate to good fame, and extinguisheth envy.

-Bacon, Francis,Viscount St Albans

The dullard's envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end.

-Beerbohm, Sir (Henry) Max(imilian)

Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?

-Bible (Old Testament)

envy quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"envy." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/envy>

APA Style

envy. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/envy

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