a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck, desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else)

to make no secret of one's envy, to eat one's heart out with envy, to be the envy of someone

green with envy, an object of envy, envy of the gods

Formal and Informal Expressions of envy

In different contexts, you can replace 'envy' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'jealousy, covetousness' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'green-eyed monster, the hots for' is a commonplace synonym.

envy: Explore its Definition & Usage

envy Definition

1a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck
2desire to have a quality, possession, or other desirable attribute belonging to (someone else)

Using envy: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "envy" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
She couldn't help but feel envy towards her friend's new car.
Example
His success was the cause of much envy among his colleagues.
Example
I envy your ability to speak multiple languages.
Example
She envied her sister's beauty.

envy Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for envy

Antonyms for envy

Idioms Using envy

to make no secret of one's envy
to openly express one's jealousy or desire for something
Example
She made no secret of her envy when her friend got a promotion instead of her.
to eat one's heart out with envy
to feel intense jealousy or envy
Example
She ate her heart out with envy when she saw her classmates going on a trip to Europe.
to be the envy of someone
to be something that someone else desires and is envious of
Example
Her successful career was the envy of all her friends.

Phrases with envy

green with envy
extremely jealous
Example
When she saw her ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend, she was green with envy.
an object of envy
something that is desired by others and causes them to feel envious
Example
Her luxurious lifestyle made her an object of envy among her peers.
envy of the gods
an object or person that is so beautiful or perfect that it arouses envy even among the gods
Example
The Taj Mahal is often called the envy of the gods for its stunning beauty.

Origins of envy

from Latin 'invidia', meaning 'envy, jealousy'

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Summary: envy in Brief

The term 'envy' [ˈɛnvi] refers to a feeling of discontent or resentment towards someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck. It can also mean a desire to have something belonging to someone else. Examples include 'She envied her sister's beauty' and 'His success was the cause of much envy among his colleagues.' Idioms like 'green with envy' and 'to eat one's heart out with envy' describe intense jealousy, while 'to be the envy of someone' denotes something that others desire.