¹envy

noun en·vy \ˈen-vē\

: the feeling of wanting to have what someone else has

: someone or something that causes envy

plural envies

Full Definition of ENVY

: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage

obsolete : malice

: an object of envious notice or feeling <his new car made him the envy of his friends>

See envy defined for English-language learners

See envy defined for kids

Origin of ENVY

Middle English envie, from Anglo-French, from Latin invidia, from invidus envious, from invidēre to look askance at, envy, from in- + vidēre to see — more at wit

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to ENVY

Synonyms: covetousness, enviousness, green-eyed monster, invidiousness, jealousy, resentment

²envy

verb

: to feel a desire to have what someone else has : to feel envy because of (someone or something)

en·vieden·vy·ing

Full Definition of ENVY

transitive verb

: to feel envy toward or on account of

obsolete : begrudge

intransitive verb

obsolete : to feel or show envy

— en·vy·ing·ly \-vē-iŋ-lē\ adverb

See envy defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of ENVY

14th century

Related to ENVY

Synonyms: begrudge, resent

ENVY Defined for Kids

¹envy

noun en·vy \ˈen-vē\

plural envies

Definition of ENVY for Kids

: a feeling of unhappiness over another's good fortune together with a desire to have the same good fortune <He was filled with envy on seeing her success.>

: a person or a thing that is envied

²envy

verb

en·vieden·vy·ing

Definition of ENVY for Kids

: to feel unhappiness over the good fortune of (someone) and desire the same good fortune : feel envy toward or because of <I envy you for your talent.>