feeling

[ fee-ling ]

/ ˈfi lɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: feeling / feelings / feelingly on Thesaurus.com

noun

the function or the power of perceiving by touch.

physical sensation not connected with sight, hearing, taste, or smell: Deep tissue massage can involve both painful and pleasant feelings.

a particular physical sensation not connected with sight, hearing, taste, or smell: a feeling of warmth; a feeling of pain.

the general state of consciousness considered independently of particular sensations, thoughts, etc.

a consciousness or vague awareness: a feeling of inferiority.

an emotion or emotional perception or attitude: a feeling of joy; a feeling of sorrow.

capacity for emotion, especially compassion: The charity staff have great feeling for the sufferings of others.

a sentiment; attitude; opinion: The general feeling was in favor of the proposal.

feelings, sensibilities; susceptibilities: A harsh reply could hurt her feelings.

fine emotional endowment.

(in music, art, etc.)

emotion or sympathetic perception revealed by an artist in their work: Though elegant, it was a poem without feeling.
the general impression conveyed by a work: Landscape paintings with a spacious feeling are very popular in small homes.
sympathetic appreciation, as of music: The pianist was known for his ability to play with feeling.

adjective

sensitive; sentient.

readily affected by emotion; sympathetic: A feeling heart could not be unaffected by this tragic story.

indicating or characterized by emotion: The defendant's speech gave a feeling reply to the charge.

OTHER WORDS FOR feeling

6 sympathy, empathy, tenderness, sensitivity, sentiment.

13 emotional, tender.

14 impassioned, passionate.

See synonyms for feeling on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR feeling

6 apathy, emotionlessness.

13 cold.

See antonyms for feeling on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of feeling

Middle English word dating back to 1125–75; see origin at feel, -ing¹, -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM feeling

feel·ing·ly, adverbfeel·ing·ness, nounnon·feel·ing, adjectivenon·feel·ing·ly, adverb

un·der·feel·ing, noun

Words nearby feeling

feeler, feeler gauge, feel for, feel free, feel-good, feeling, feelings, feel in one's bones, feel like, feel like death, feel like oneself

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

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say feeling?

A feeling is a particular sensation or an emotional perception or attitude. What’s the difference between feeling, emotion, passion, and sentiment? Find out on Thesaurus.com.

How to use feeling in a sentence

We wouldn’t get the same feeling at the growth stage versus working with small teams or a single founder.
With Goat Capital, Justin Kan and Robin Chan want to keep founding alongside the right teams|Eric Eldon|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
Economists tend to have mixed feelings about unions, pointing out their inefficiencies and inflexibilities.
Does Anyone Really Know What Socialism Is? (Ep. 408 Rebroadcast)|Stephen J. Dubner|September 17, 2020|Freakonomics
Every time, I have this feeling that it’s going to be forever.
The best thing for back pain is actually more movement|Sara Chodosh|September 16, 2020|Popular-Science
When we think about communicating, we tend to think about our own thoughts and feelings rather than how we might be influencing others.
The Dark Side of Smart - Facts So Romantic|Diana Fleischman|September 15, 2020|Nautilus

She said if Oracle or any new owner changed TikTok, it would be “big” and could potentially change the organic feeling of community that the app has created.
What’s Oracle? TikTok users react to proposed Oracle deal|Danielle Abril|September 15, 2020|Fortune
Something like fluoride, which is too small for normal filters, yanks away that feeling of agency.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
But there is an underlying feeling that the worst is yet to come.
Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We have to share those feelings of concern that the people are feeling.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder|Jason McGahan|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I had a feeling that Turkish authorities were closing their eyes.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Within a few swipes, I was already feeling that burst of romantic optimism you need the first day of the (Christian) new year.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is full of poetic feeling, and the flesh tints are unusually natural.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
Alessandro turned a grateful look on Ramona as he translated this speech, so in unison with Indian modes of thought and feeling.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Selections for practice should be chosen which contain much variety of thought and feeling and are smooth in movement.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
It was with a feeling of relief on both sides that the arrival of Mr. Haggard, of the Home Office, was announced.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
The little boy of two, often quoted here, showed a punctilious feeling for order in the placing of things.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for feeling

feeling

/ (ˈfiːlɪŋ) /

noun

the sense of touch

the ability to experience physical sensations, such as heat, pain, etc
the sensation so experienced

a state of mind

a physical or mental impressiona feeling of warmth

fondness; sympathyto have a great deal of feeling for someone

an ability to feel deeplya person of feeling

a sentimenta feeling that the project is feasible

an impression or mood; atmospherethe feeling of a foreign city

an emotional disturbance, esp anger or dislikea lot of bad feeling about the increase in taxes

intuitive appreciation and understandinga feeling for words

sensibility in the performance of something

(plural) emotional or moral sensitivity, as in relation to principles or personal dignity (esp in the phrase hurt or injure the feelings of)

have feelings for to be emotionally or sexually attracted to

adjective

sentient; sensitive

expressing or containing emotion

warm-hearted; sympathetic

Derived forms of feeling

feelingly, adverb

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

feeling

OTHER WORDS FOR feeling

OPPOSITES FOR feeling

Origin of feeling

OTHER WORDS FROM feeling

Words nearby feeling

WHEN TO USE

What are other ways to say feeling?

Words related to feeling

How to use feeling in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for feeling

Derived forms of feeling