noun
envy
EHN-vee
noun
1
A feeling of resentful longing for something someone else has.
"His success stirred up envy among his coworkers."
verb
1
To feel resentful desire for what someone else has.
"I envy your ability to fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow."
"She envied her colleague's effortless promotion."
How to Use Envy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWanting what someone else has, often with a touch of resentment.
Common mistake
Envy is wanting what belongs to someone else; jealousy is fear of losing what already belongs to you.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
green with envy
envy of
the envy of
Word Forms
envied past tense, envies plural, envies singular
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His success stirred up _____ among his coworkers.
Etymology
From Old French envie, from Latin invidia, itself from invidere, "to look at with ill will" (in-, "upon" + videre, "to see").