envy of

USAGE SUMMARY

"envy of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to express a feeling of desire or longing for the successes, possessions, or qualities of another person. For example, "She had the envy of the entire office for her promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Envy of the world, remember?

Independent

First place, the envy of baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

The spots are the envy of all.

The New York Times

"I think they're the envy of everyone".

The New York Times

"Envy of Stieg, envy of his success — that's the best explanation I can offer".

The New York Times - Books

She was the envy of them all.

The New York Times - Style

It's the envy of the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

The envy of many an architect.

The Guardian - Arts

America's recovery is the envy of the rich world.

The Economist

Germany's growth and employment record are the envy of Europe.

The Economist

DéCOR Large bay windows, the envy of her neighbors.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "envy of" to highlight something that is widely admired or desired by others. For instance, "Their success quickly made them the envy of their competitors".

Common error

Avoid using "envy of" when you mean jealousy. Envy is wanting what someone else has, while jealousy is fearing you'll lose something you already have because of someone else. Say "He felt envy of her success" not "He felt jealousy of her success" if he wants the success for himself and is not afraid of losing something that he already has.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "envy of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun, indicating that someone or something is the object of envy. As Ludwig AI confirms, it expresses a feeling of desire for the attributes or possessions of another. For example, "She was the envy of them all."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "envy of" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone or something is highly desired or admired. Ludwig AI confirms that it accurately conveys a feeling of longing for what another possesses. Primarily used in News & Media, it carries a neutral tone and serves to highlight the positive qualities of the subject. When writing, remember to differentiate between envy and jealousy. For alternative phrases, consider options like ""object of envy"", "admired by", or "desired by" to adjust the nuance or tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

object of envy

This alternative highlights the person or thing causing the envy, shifting the focus from the feeling to the subject.

regarded with envy

This shifts the grammatical structure while keeping the same basic meaning, emphasizing how something is viewed by others.

the source of envy

Similar to 'object of envy', this highlights what is causing the feeling rather than the feeling itself.

is the cause of envy

This phrase directly states the reason for the envy, making the statement more declarative.

admired by

This phrase replaces the negative connotation of envy with the positive aspect of admiration, focusing on respect and approval.

inspired envy in

This alternative changes the verb, focusing on the act of inspiring envy rather than the state of being envied.

desired by

This focuses on the longing and wanting aspect of envy, omitting any negative undertones.

coveted by

This alternative suggests a strong desire to possess something that someone else has, highlighting the acquisitive element of envy.

yearned for by

This phrase emphasizes a deep longing or yearning, conveying a sense of wistful desire.

the subject of much jealousy

Rephrasing to focus on jealousy makes the expression less direct, but it retains a similar negative sentiment.

FAQs

How can I use "envy of" in a sentence?

You can use "envy of" to describe someone or something that is highly desired or admired. For example, "Her car is the envy of all her friends" or "The company's innovative products are the "object of envy" in the industry".

What's a more positive alternative to "envy of"?

If you want to avoid the negative connotation of envy, you can use phrases like "admired by" or "desired by" to express admiration or longing in a more favorable light.

Is it correct to say "jealous of" instead of "envy of"?

While both words relate to wanting what others have, "jealous" implies a fear of losing something you already possess due to someone else. "Envy", on the other hand, simply means wanting what someone else has. Therefore, it depends on the context whether "jealous of" or "envy of" is more appropriate.

What are some other ways to describe something that is widely admired?

Besides "envy of", you could say something is "coveted by", "highly regarded", or "the "subject of much jealousy"" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.