English Dictionary
Definition of “envy”
envy (ˈɛnvɪ
)
Definitions
noun
- a feeling of grudging or somewhat admiring discontent aroused by the possessions, achievements, or qualities of another
- the desire to have for oneself something possessed by another; covetousness
- an object of envy
verb
- to be envious of (a person or thing)
Alternative Forms
ˈenvier noun ˈenvyingly adverb Word Origin
C13: via Old French from Latin invidia, from invidēre to eye maliciously, from in-² + vidēre to see
Synonyms
View thesaurus entry
=
covetousness,
spite,
hatred,
resentment,
jealousy,
bitterness,
malice,
ill will,
malignity,
resentfulness,
enviousness,
Quotations
"Nothing sharpens sight like envy"
Thomas Fuller"Our envy always lasts much longer than the happiness of those we envy"
Duc de la Rochefoucauld"Even success softens not the heart of the envious"
Pindar
Translations
- British English:
envy
Envy is the feeling you have when you wish you could have the same thing or quality that someone else has.She was full of envy when she heard their news.ˈɛnvɪ NOUN She was full of envy when she heard their news.
- Spanish:
envidia
nf
- French:
convoitise
nf
- German:
Neid
nm
- Chinese: 羡慕 n
- Arabic: حَسَد n
- Portuguese: inveja nf
- Russian: зависть nf
- Croatian: zavist nf
- Czech: závist nf
- Danish: misundelse nutr
- Dutch: afgunst nf
- Finnish: kateus n
- Greek: φθόνος nm
- Italian: invidia nf
- Japanese: ねたみ n
- Korean: 질투 n
- Norwegian: misunnelse nm
- Polish: zawiść nf
- Brazilian Portuguese: inveja nf
- European Spanish:
envidia
nf
- Swedish: avundsjuka nutr
- Thai: ความอิจฉา n
- Turkish: haset n
- Vietnamese: sự ghen tị n
- British English:
envy
If you envy someone, you wish that you had the same things or qualities that they have.I don't envy young people these days.ˈɛnvɪ VERB I don't envy young people these days.
- Spanish:
envidiar
v
- French:
convoiter
vt
- German:
beneiden
v
- Chinese: 羡慕 v
- Arabic: يَحْسُدُ v
- Portuguese: invejar v
- Russian: завидовать v
- Croatian: zavidjeti v
- Czech: závidět v
- Danish: misunde v
- Dutch: benijden v
- Finnish: kadehtia v
- Greek: φθονώ v
- Italian: invidiare v
- Japanese: うらやむ v
- Korean: 질투하다 v
- Norwegian: misunne v
- Polish: pozazdrościć v zazdrościć
- Brazilian Portuguese: invejar v
- European Spanish:
envidiar
v
- Swedish: avundas v
- Thai: ริษยา v
- Turkish: hasetlenmek v
- Vietnamese: ghen tị v
Usage examples
Sam's gang had grown kind of pale and watery, as if grief and envy were slowly dissolving them.
Kate Cann, READY? (2001)The fear of being thrown out seems to drive him to do things that make him the envy of his colleagues.
India Today (2000)I think some straight people envy the lifestyle of gay people.
Globe and Mail (2003)On the other hand, I don't envy Sharon or any of the decision-makers who have to make the decisions now.
Belfast Telegraph (2004)While jealousy is often used in everyday conversation to refer to envy , the same does not happen the other way around.
Claudia Hammond, EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings (2005)
