First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
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
1
: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage
2
obsolete : malice
3
: 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
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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
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
1
: to feel envy toward or on account of
2
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
ENVY[1] Defined for Kids
1envy
noun en·vy \ˈen-vē\
plural envies
Definition of ENVY for Kids
1
: 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.>
2
: 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.>
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