feel for
Idioms-
Grope, reach for with one's hands, as in It was pitch dark, and I felt for the doorknob . [Early 1700s]
-
feel for someone . Sympathize with or feel sorry for someone, as in Tom was so upset that I felt for him . This usage was put as feel with by Shakespeare: “It resounds as if it felt with Scotland” ( Macbeth , 4:3). Both senses of feel for are present in the somewhat sarcastic I feel for you but I can't quite reach you , meaning “Too bad, but I don't really feel sorry for you.”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"I feel for them," she said, "because I have already lived through the situation myself."
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
They also got a feel for the issues and questions they needed to address.
From Salon ● Oct. 16, 2026
Did you get a feel for Nashville as a town while you were there?
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
"I feel for Pakistan because this is embarrassing with everything they've had to cope with in the last week," he said.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Her hands shook as she first pressed a flat palm to his chest to feel for a pulse, then held up his wrist to check again.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
