feel

[ feel ]

/ fil /

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See synonyms for: feel / feeling / feels / felt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), felt, feel·ing.

to perceive or examine by touch.

to have a sensation of (something), other than by sight, hearing, taste, or smell: to feel a toothache.

to find or pursue (one's way) by touching, groping, or cautious moves.

to be or become conscious of.

to be emotionally affected by: to feel one's disgrace keenly.

to experience the effects of: The whole region felt the storm.

to have a particular sensation or impression of (often used reflexively and usually followed by an adjunct or complement): to feel oneself slighted.

to have a general or thorough conviction of; think; believe: I feel he's guilty.

verb (used without object), felt, feel·ing.

to have perception by touch or by any nerves of sensation other than those of sight, hearing, taste, and smell.

to make examination by touch; grope.

to perceive a state of mind or a condition of body: to feel happy; to feel well.

to have a sensation of being: to feel warm.

to make itself perceived or apparent; seem: How does it feel to be rich?

noun

a quality of an object that is perceived by feeling or touching: the soft feel of cotton.

a sensation of something felt; a vague mental impression or feeling: a feel of winter; a feel of sadness in the air.

the sense of touch: soft to the feel.

native ability or acquired sensitivity: to have a feel for what is right.

Informal. an act or instance of touching with the hand or fingers.

Slang: Vulgar. an act or instance of feeling up.

feels, Informal. strong, often positive feelings: That song gives me feels. I have so many feels right now.

Verb Phrases

feel for,

to feel sympathy for or compassion toward; empathize with: I know you're disappointed and upset, and I feel for you.
Southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland. to have a liking or desire for: If you feel for more pie, just help yourself.

feel out, to attempt to ascertain (the nature of a situation, someone's attitude, etc.) by indirect or subtle means:Why not feel out the other neighbors' opinions before you make a complaint.

feel up, Slang: Vulgar. to fondle or touch (someone) in a sexual manner.

feel up to, Informal. to feel or be able to; be capable of: He didn't feel up to going to the theater so soon after his recent illness.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about feel

cop a feel, Slang: Vulgar. to touch another person's body sexually, often in a quick and surreptitious way.

feel like, Informal.

to have a desire for; be favorably disposed to: I don't feel like going out tonight. Do you feel like a movie?
to think; have the opinion (often used to soften the tone of discourse): I feel like this is the only solution in this case.
to have a particular impression; believe (used to express emotional sentiments): I feel like she doesn't love me anymore.

feel like oneself, to be in one's usual frame of mind or state of health: She hasn't been feeling like herself since the accident. Also feel oneself.

feel no pain. pain (def. 5).

Origin of feel

before 900; Middle English felen,Old English fēlan; cognate with Old Saxon fōlian,German fühlen; akin to Old Norse falma to grope. See fumble

usage note for feel

When the verb feel is used in the sense "to think or believe," it typically implies believing or having an opinion on the basis of emotion or intuition, even in circumstances unsupported by much real evidence. Although some usage experts object, such use is well established in English and can be traced as far back as Middle English. When feel is used specifically to express a subjective impression, it is often used with as if, as though, or that and followed by a full sentence: I felt as if my world had come to an end. He feels as though it is always raining. I feel that things will get better now. More informally, feel can be used without as if/as though/that : I feel he's guilty. And a full sentence does not have to follow: I felt his answer to be impolite. In the same sense of "to think or believe," an alternative phrase feel like is found in informal or casual speech. This use of feel like typically expresses an opinion or emotional sentiment with a softened or tentative tone: I feel like nothing is getting done here. I feel like he is just too arrogant. Though increasingly common, use of the phrase feel like has been criticized as lazy thinking that ignores real evidence, while avoiding confrontation and debate.

OTHER WORDS FROM feel

o·ver·feel, verb, o·ver·felt, o·ver·feel·ing.re·feel, verb, re·felt, re·feel·ing.

Words nearby feel

feedstuff, feed the kitty, feedthrough, feedwater, fee-for-service, feel, feel-bad, feel blue, feeler, feeler gauge, feel for

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use feel in a sentence

I still very much appreciate the feel of Oklahoma, the sort of warmth of it, but I also know that some of that warmth masked a very ugly history that’s now being revealed.
Can Anita Hill Forgive Joe Biden … and Work With Him?|Pallabi Munsi|September 14, 2020|Ozy
Preserving the quality of the content and presentations, maximizing networking opportunities and preserving as much of the feel of the expo hall as possible were among the top priorities.
‘Layer of data and efficiency’: How TechCrunch took Disrupt virtual — and grew for its tenth anniversary|Max Willens|September 11, 2020|Digiday
This should help you make a decision whether or not you may feel comfortable sending your child to day care.
Is it safe to return to day care? 7 experts weigh in|Brooke Henderson|July 23, 2020|Fortune
The result is a health care experience that feels a lot more like what we would all expect for our loved ones in a time of need.
Why this health care startup felt launching early during a pandemic was the best business strategy|Rachel King|July 20, 2020|Fortune

Year after year I’ve spent innumerable hours scouring the internet attempting to find a present that feels unique and intimate even when my partner and I are thousands of miles apart.
8 Gifts to Bring Back the Fire in Long-Distance Relationships|Tracy Moran|July 10, 2020|Ozy
Citizens, perhaps, need to feel like they can communicate something to science.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
How do you feel about Archer and the gang abandoning the cartel and returning to the office?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For someone with anorexia, self-starvation makes them feel better.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models|Carrie Arnold|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Its biggest asset, of course, is the steely Atwell, who never asks you to feel sorry for Carter despite all the sexism around her.
Marvel’s ‘Agent Carter’ Stomps on the Patriarchy|Melissa Leon|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is not making the 228,000 residents of Irving, Texas feel very relaxed.
26 Earthquakes Later, Fracking’s Smoking Gun Is in Texas|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
After all, may not even John Burns be human; may not Mr. Chamberlain himself have a heart that can feel for another?
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
“You appear to feel it so,” rejoined Mr. Pickwick, smiling at the clerk, who was literally red-hot.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
It was such a magnificent sum that Sol did not feel like taking the familiarity with it of mentioning it aloud.
The Bondboy|George W. (George Washington) Ogden
And he had waited so long for Grandfather Mole that he had begun to feel hungry again.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
They feel that the system has few advantages to offer in return for the cost it entails upon them.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips

British Dictionary definitions for feel

feel

/ (fiːl) /

verb feels, feeling or felt (fɛlt)

to perceive (something) by touching

to have a physical or emotional sensation of (something)to feel heat; to feel anger

(tr) to examine (something) by touch

(tr) to find (one's way) by testing or cautious exploration

(copula) to seem or appear in respect of the sensation givenI feel tired; it feels warm

to have an indistinct, esp emotional conviction; sense (esp in the phrase feel in one's bones)

(intr foll by for) to show sympathy or compassion (towards)I feel for you in your sorrow

to believe, think, or be of the opinion (that)he feels he must resign

(tr often foll by up) slang to pass one's hands over the sexual organs of

feel like to have an inclination (for something or doing something)I don't feel like going to the pictures

feel oneself or feel quite oneself to be fit and sure of oneself

feel up to (usually used with a negative or in a question) to be fit enough for (something or doing something)I don't feel up to going out tonight

noun

the act or an instance of feeling, esp by touching

the quality of or an impression from something perceived through feelingthe house has a homely feel about it

the sense of touchthe fabric is rough to the feel

an instinctive aptitude; knackshe's got a feel for this sort of work

Word Origin for feel

Old English fēlan; related to Old High German fuolen, Old Norse fālma to grope, Latin palma palm 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with feel

feel

In addition to the idioms beginning with feel

feel bad
feel blue
feel for
feel free
feel in one's bones
feel like
feel like death
feel like oneself
feel like two cents
feel no pain
feel oneself
feel one's oats
feel one's way
feel out
feel out of place
feel put upon
feel someone up
feel the pinch
feel up to

also see:

(feel) at home
cop a feel
get the feel of
(feel) put upon

Also seefeelings.

feel

Idioms about feel

Origin of feel

usage note for feel

OTHER WORDS FROM feel

Words nearby feel

Words related to feel

How to use feel in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for feel

Word Origin for feel

Other Idioms and Phrases with feel