envy
B1Neutral (common in both formal and informal contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of resentful longing or discontent aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck.
A desire for something possessed by another; also, an object of such desire. Can refer to a state of covetousness directed at a person's attributes, circumstances, or belongings.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a negative emotion involving resentment. Distinct from 'jealousy', which is more focused on fear of losing something one already has to a rival.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Both treat as noun and verb.
Connotations
Equally negative in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both corpora.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
envy somebody something (ditransitive)envy somebody for somethingenvy somethingenvy somebodyVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “green with envy”
- “the envy of someone/something”
- “envy at the feast”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe competitive desire for another company's success, market share, or innovations.
Academic
Discussed in psychology, sociology, and literature as a social emotion.
Everyday
Commonly used to describe feelings about others' possessions, looks, or luck.
Technical
Not a technical term in most fields; used in its ordinary sense.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- I don't envy you that long drive in the rain.
- She envied his effortless confidence at the podium.
American English
- I envy your ability to work from home.
- They envied her for getting the promotion.
adverb
British English
- He watched enviously as his neighbour unpacked the new car.
- She glanced enviously at her friend's designer handbag.
American English
- They talked enviously about the team's vacation plans.
- He smiled enviously at the thought of their early retirement.
adjective
British English
- He gave her an envious glance as she received the award.
- She looked at the holiday photos with envious eyes.
American English
- It was hard not to feel envious of their new house.
- An envious coworker started spreading rumours.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She feels envy when she sees her friend's new bike.
- His new toy is the envy of all the children.
- I envy people who can speak three languages.
- There was a hint of envy in her voice when she congratulated him.
- The company's rapid growth is the envy of its competitors.
- His promotion sparked a wave of quiet envy among his colleagues.
- Beneath her congratulatory tone lay a substratum of pure, unadulterated envy.
- The policy was born not of idealism but of political envy towards the opposition's popularity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Envy Ends Nice Vibes Yearly. It's a feeling that ruins goodwill.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENVY IS A GREEN-EYED MONSTER (from Shakespeare's 'Othello').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'jealousy' (ревность), which is more specific to relationships. 'Envy' (зависть) is broader.
- The Russian phrase 'белая зависть' (white envy) implying harmless admiration has no direct, commonly accepted equivalent in English.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'envy' (wanting what someone else has) with 'jealousy' (fear of losing what you have to someone else).
- Using 'envy' as a positive synonym for 'admire' without the negative connotation.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'envy' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in standard usage, envy implies a resentful or unhappy longing. The idiom 'green with envy' underscores its negativity. A non-negative synonym would be 'admiration'.
Envy involves two parties: you want what someone else has. Jealousy involves three parties: you fear losing something (often a relationship) to a rival. In casual use, they are often conflated.
Yes, it's common as a verb (e.g., 'I envy your patience'). It can take a direct object (I envy you) or be used ditransitively (I envy you your success).
It's an idiom meaning 'something that is greatly desired and admired by'. Example: 'Their efficient public transport system is the envy of the world.'
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