Emotions / B1

JEL-uh-see/ˈdʒeləsi/

Jealousy is the unhappy or angry feeling when someone has what you want (often uncountable). Jealous is the adjective (already in the dictionary): jealous of. Envy is a close twin, sometimes milder. Do not write “a jealousy” in exams. Mix-up: zealous (eager). Teams: open jealousy when one intern is kept on.

Meaning

An unhappy or angry feeling because someone has what you want (often uncountable).

Examples

• “There was open jealousy in the team when one intern was kept on.”
• “Jealousy of a classmate’s grade is not evidence of unfair marking.”

Good to know

Often uncountable. Adjective: jealous of. Close: envy. Mix-up: zealous. Not “jealously” for the feeling (that is the adverb). Workplace / exams.

Near in meaning

envy

Topics

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