To be envious means to feel unhappy or resentful because someone else has something you want. When you're envious, you look at what another person has (a new bike, a higher test score, more friends, a special talent) and wish you had it instead, often with a bitter or uncomfortable feeling mixed in.

Envy focuses on what others have that you lack. You might feel envious when your classmate gets picked for the lead role in the school play, or when your friend's science project wins first place while yours doesn't place at all. The feeling can gnaw at you, making it hard to feel happy for the other person's success.

Envious differs from jealous, though people often confuse them. Jealous usually means fearing you'll lose something you already have (like worrying your best friend likes someone else better). Envious means wanting something someone else has that you don't.

Everyone feels envious sometimes. The key is recognizing the feeling and choosing what to do with it. Some people let envy poison their friendships and make them miserable. Others use that uncomfortable feeling as motivation: seeing someone else succeed can inspire you to work harder toward your own goals. An envious glance across the classroom at someone's perfect drawing might push you to practice your own art skills more seriously.