Explanation at your level:
You feel envious when you want a toy or a thing that your friend has. You feel a little sad because you do not have it. You can say: 'I am envious of your ball.' It is a simple way to say you want what others have.
When you see someone with something nice, like a new phone or a fast bike, you might feel envious. This means you wish that the item was yours. It is a common feeling when we compare ourselves to our friends or classmates.
To be envious is to feel a mix of desire and unhappiness because someone else has something you want. It is often used with the preposition 'of'. For example, 'She was envious of his success at the competition.' It is a common word in daily conversations about life and achievements.
Using the word envious allows you to express a specific nuance of wanting someone else's advantages. Unlike 'jealousy,' which often involves fear of losing someone, 'envy' is strictly about wanting a possession or trait. It is useful in both professional and personal contexts to describe your feelings regarding others' progress.
In advanced discourse, envious can describe a state of being that is not just about material goods but about status or character traits. One might be 'envious of her poise' or 'envious of their academic reputation.' It carries a weight of social comparison and reflects the complexities of human ambition and the tendency to measure one's own worth against the achievements of others.
The term envious is deeply rooted in the literary tradition of exploring the 'seven deadly sins.' It represents a fundamental human struggle with contentment. When used in a sophisticated context, it can describe a 'bitterly envious' look or an 'envious silence,' suggesting a profound psychological state that transcends simple material desire. Its usage reflects a nuanced understanding of social dynamics and the inherent dissatisfaction that arises from the perception of inequality.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Envious means wanting what someone else has.
- Always use 'envious of'.
- It is different from jealousy.
- It is an adjective.
When you feel envious, you are experiencing a mix of desire and a bit of sadness. It happens when you look at someone else and think, 'I wish I had what they have.' Whether it is a new bike, a high grade, or a fun vacation, the feeling of envy is a very human emotion.
It is important to remember that being envious is different from just being jealous. While people often use the words interchangeably, envious specifically focuses on wanting what someone else possesses. It is a common feeling that can sometimes be a signal to work harder for your own goals instead of just wishing for others' success.
The word envious comes from the Latin word invidiosus, which means 'full of envy' or 'hateful.' The root word invidere literally translates to 'to look at with malice.' This is quite fascinating because it shows that historically, people believed that looking at someone with envy could actually cause them harm!
Over centuries, the word evolved through Old French as envie before entering Middle English. It has kept its core meaning of looking at others with a sense of wanting their possessions. It is a great example of how our language captures deep psychological feelings that have existed since ancient times.
You will often hear people say they are 'envious of' someone. This is the most common way to use the word. For example, 'I am envious of your new job.' It is a neutral-to-slightly-negative word, so use it carefully as it can imply you are not happy for the other person.
In formal writing, you might see it used to describe a position, such as 'an enviable position.' Note the slight change in spelling and meaning—enviable means something so good that it makes others feel envious. Always pair it with the preposition 'of' when describing the person or thing you desire.
1. Green with envy: To be extremely envious. Example: 'She was green with envy when she saw his new car.'
2. The grass is always greener: Thinking others have it better. Example: 'Don't be envious; the grass is always greener on the other side.'
3. Envy of the world: Something so good everyone wants it. Example: 'Her garden is the envy of the world.'
4. Eat your heart out: A playful way to say someone should be envious. Example: 'I'm going to Hawaii, eat your heart out!'
5. A green-eyed monster: A way to describe the feeling of jealousy or envy. Example: 'The green-eyed monster took hold of him.'
Envious is an adjective, so it describes nouns. It is pronounced EN-vee-us. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like 'devious' and 'previous'.
Grammatically, it is almost always followed by the preposition 'of'. You are not just 'envious,' you are 'envious of' something. It does not have a plural form because it is an adjective. Remember to use the linking verb 'to be' before it, such as 'I am envious' or 'they were envious.'
Fun Fact
Ancient people thought an envious look could cause a 'curse'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'en' sound, 'vee' as in bee, 'us' as in bus.
Similar to UK, slightly more emphasis on the 'en'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'vi' as 'vie'
- Stress on the wrong syllable
- Dropping the 's' at the end
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Accessible for most learners
Easy to use in sentences
Clear pronunciation
Commonly heard
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Adjective + Preposition
envious of
Linking Verbs
is envious
Comparative Adjectives
more envious
Examples by Level
I am envious of your toy.
I want your toy.
Use 'of' after envious.
He is envious of her.
He wants what she has.
Pronoun usage.
Are you envious?
Do you want it?
Question form.
She is not envious.
She is happy.
Negative form.
They are envious of us.
They want our things.
Plural subject.
Don't be envious.
Be happy.
Imperative.
I was envious then.
In the past.
Past tense.
Is he envious of me?
Does he want my stuff?
Subject-verb inversion.
She felt envious of his high grade.
I am envious of your long vacation.
He is envious of her new car.
Don't be envious of your brother.
They were envious of our success.
Are you envious of her talent?
She is never envious of others.
He looked at the cake with an envious eye.
I couldn't help but feel envious of their lifestyle.
She was envious of the attention he received.
It is natural to feel envious sometimes.
He was envious of her ability to speak four languages.
Don't let an envious heart ruin your day.
They were envious of the promotion he received.
She tried not to be envious of her friend's travel photos.
The team was envious of the champions' trophy.
His envious remarks revealed his lack of confidence.
She was deeply envious of the opportunities he was given.
The company's success made its competitors feel envious.
He cast an envious glance at the prize.
It is an enviable position, but I am not envious.
She was envious of the peace he seemed to have.
Don't be so envious of what others have achieved.
Their envious behavior created tension in the office.
The artist was envious of his contemporary's effortless style.
She harbored an envious feeling toward those who traveled freely.
His success left his peers feeling distinctly envious.
The writer described an envious look that lasted for a second.
She was envious of the intellectual freedom he enjoyed.
It is a common human flaw to be envious of unearned luck.
The political climate was filled with envious rivalries.
He felt an envious pang as he watched them celebrate.
The protagonist's envious nature eventually led to his downfall.
She possessed an envious grace that others tried to emulate.
The atmosphere in the room was thick with envious tension.
He was envious of the quiet life she had cultivated.
The poem captures the dark essence of an envious soul.
Such envious comparisons are the thief of joy.
She viewed his accomplishments with an envious, yet admiring, gaze.
The historical account highlights the envious power struggles of the era.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Green with envy"
Very jealous or envious.
He was green with envy when he saw my new car.
casual"The grass is always greener"
Others' situations always seem better.
Don't be envious; the grass is always greener on the other side.
neutral"Eat your heart out"
A playful way to show off.
I'm going to the beach, eat your heart out!
casual"Envy of the neighborhood"
The best thing in the area.
Her garden is the envy of the neighborhood.
neutral"Green-eyed monster"
Jealousy personified.
Beware the green-eyed monster.
literary"Keep up with the Joneses"
Trying to match others' status.
They are always trying to keep up with the Joneses.
neutralEasily Confused
Both describe negative feelings about others.
Jealousy is often about fear of loss; envy is about wanting what others have.
He was jealous of his wife's friend. He was envious of his friend's car.
Same root word.
Enviable describes the object that makes people envious.
She has an enviable job.
Similar meaning.
Covetous is much more formal and implies greed.
He had a covetous nature.
Both involve wanting things.
Greedy is wanting too much for yourself; envious is wanting what someone else has.
He was greedy for food. He was envious of her success.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + be + envious + of + Noun
She is envious of his success.
Subject + look + with + envious + eyes
He looked at the cake with envious eyes.
It + be + an + envious + situation
It was an envious situation for the team.
Subject + feel + envious + of + Pronoun
I feel envious of them.
Adverb + envious + of + Noun
He was bitterly envious of his brother.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
The correct preposition is 'of'.
Envy is a noun, envious is an adjective.
Deeply is a better collocate than very.
Always use 'of' with this adjective.
Missing the preposition 'of'.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a green monster (envy) standing next to someone you want to be like.
Native Speaker Tip
Use 'envious of' to sound natural.
Cultural Insight
Envy is often discussed as a 'deadly sin' in Western culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Envious is an adjective—it needs a verb like 'is' or 'are'.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'vee' sound in the middle.
Avoid 'Envious to'
It is always 'envious of'.
Did You Know?
The word comes from 'looking at with malice'.
Study Smart
Use the word in a journal entry about your own goals.
Better Writing
Use 'envious' to add depth to character descriptions.
Conversation Tip
Use it to express admiration combined with a wish to be similar.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
EN-VI-OUS: Every Neighbor's Value Is Often Under Surveillance.
Visual Association
A person looking over a fence at a neighbor's nice car.
Word Web
Challenge
Write a sentence about someone else's success without using the word envious.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To look at with malice
Cultural Context
Can be seen as a negative character trait.
Commonly discussed in self-help and psychology.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At school
- envious of her grades
- envious of his popularity
- envious of their talent
At work
- envious of the promotion
- envious of the salary
- envious of the office space
In sports
- envious of the winning team
- envious of their skills
- envious of the trophy
Social media
- envious of their vacation
- envious of their lifestyle
- envious of their photos
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever been envious of someone?"
"Do you think envy can be a good motivator?"
"How do you deal with feeling envious?"
"Is it common to be envious of celebrities?"
"What is the difference between jealousy and envy?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt envious.
Describe what you would do if you had everything you were envious of.
How can you turn envy into a positive goal?
Reflect on why we compare ourselves to others.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsThey are similar, but envious means wanting what others have, while jealous often means fearing losing what you have.
You use it to describe a person's feeling, not the thing itself.
EN-vee-us.
Envy.
It describes a negative feeling, but it is not a 'bad' word in terms of politeness.
Always 'of'.
No, it requires comparing yourself to others.
Yes, in the context of competition.
Test Yourself
I am ___ of your toy.
Envious is the adjective for wanting something.
What does envious mean?
Envious means desiring someone else's possession.
You can be 'envious to' someone.
You are 'envious of' someone.
Word
Meaning
Match synonyms or opposites.
Subject + verb + adjective + preposition + object.
She looked at his prize with an ___ glance.
Envious fits the context of looking at a prize.
Envious and enviable mean the same thing.
Envious is the feeling; enviable is the object that causes the feeling.
Which is the best synonym for envious?
Covetous is a formal synonym.
His envious nature caused the downfall.
Envious can be used as a noun.
Envious is strictly an adjective.
Score: /10
Summary
Envious is the feeling of wanting what someone else possesses, and it is always used with the preposition 'of'.
- Envious means wanting what someone else has.
- Always use 'envious of'.
- It is different from jealousy.
- It is an adjective.
Memory Palace
Imagine a green monster (envy) standing next to someone you want to be like.
Native Speaker Tip
Use 'envious of' to sound natural.
Cultural Insight
Envy is often discussed as a 'deadly sin' in Western culture.
Grammar Shortcut
Envious is an adjective—it needs a verb like 'is' or 'are'.
Example
I am envious of your beautiful new house.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
More Emotions words
abanimfy
C1A collective psychological state characterized by a profound loss of vitality, spirit, or motivation within a specific group or community. It describes the stagnation that occurs when a social structure or organization loses its shared sense of purpose and creative energy.
abanimize
C1The systematic process of neutralizing or stripping away emotional intensity from a situation to achieve a state of detached objectivity. It is primarily used to describe a mental state where complex human sentiments are reduced to manageable, clinical facts to avoid personal bias.
abhor
C1To feel a strong sense of horror, disgust, or intense hatred toward something. It is a formal verb used to describe a deep-seated moral or emotional repulsion.
abminity
C1To regard something with intense loathing or extreme disgust; to treat an object or idea as an abomination. It is used in high-level contexts to describe a profound moral or aesthetic aversion toward an action or concept.
abmotine
C1Describes a state of being emotionally detached or lacking intrinsic motivation, often characterized by a cold, clinical, or indifferent stance. It is used to denote a specific lack of movement or response to external emotional stimuli.
abominable
C1Causing a feeling of hatred or disgust; very unpleasant or disagreeable. It often describes something morally repulsive or extremely bad in quality.
abphilous
C1To consciously withdraw or distance oneself from a previous affinity, attraction, or emotional attachment. It involves a systematic effort to break a psychological bond in order to achieve a state of neutrality or objectivity.
absedhood
C1Describing a state of being profoundly detached or emotionally withdrawn from one's surroundings or social responsibilities. It refers to a specific condition of intense, often self-imposed, isolation or a lack of interest in external affairs.
abvidness
C1The quality or state of being intensely eager, enthusiastic, or consumed by a particular interest or desire. It represents a level of dedication and spirited engagement that often goes beyond standard enthusiasm, typical of scholars, collectors, or hobbyists.
adacrty
C1Alacrity refers to a cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness to do something. It describes not only the speed of an action but also the positive and enthusiastic attitude of the person performing it.
