adjective
Uncommon
envious
EHN-vee-uhs
Envious (adjective) means feeling or showing envy toward someone else's success, possessions, or good fortune. Example: “He couldn't hide his envious glances at his neighbor's new car.”
adjective
1
Feeling or showing envy toward someone else's success, possessions, or good fortune.
"an envious man, disposition, or attack; envious tongues"
"He couldn't hide his envious glances at his neighbor's new car."
"She felt envious of her friend's new job."
How to use envious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWishing you had what someone else has.
Common mistake
"Envious" is about wanting what someone else has; "jealous" more often describes fear of losing something you already have, like a partner's attention — though the two overlap heavily in casual speech.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
envious of
envious glance
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more envious
- Superlative
- most envious
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He couldn't hide his _____ glances at his neighbor's new car.
Etymology
From Old French envieus, from Latin invidiosus, related to "envy."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for envious
See all rhymes for envious →Frequently asked questions
What does “envious” mean?
The word “envious” means feeling or showing envy toward someone else's success, possessions, or good fortune. In plain terms, wishing you had what someone else has.
How do you pronounce “envious”?
“Envious” is pronounced EHN-vee-uhs (/ˈɛnviːəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “envious” in a sentence?
Here is “envious” used in a sentence: “He couldn't hide his envious glances at his neighbor's new car.”
What part of speech is “envious”?
“Envious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “envious” come from?
The word “envious” comes from Latin. From Old French envieus, from Latin invidiosus, related to "envy.".
Is “envious” a common word?
“Envious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
