feel
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
1usage note For feel
Other words from feel
- o·ver·feel, verb, o·ver·felt, o·ver·feel·ing.
- re·feel, verb, re·felt, re·feel·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use feel in a sentence
It all sounds a bit dramatic, but that cactus feels like something special.
Lost For Thousands of Strokes: 'Desert Golfing' Is 'Angry Birds' as Modern Art | Alec Kubas-Meyer | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAbraham, a yellow cab driver and student, feels that blacks are targeted unfairly by the police.
Everybody stays—because by the end, his triumph feels like your own.
Hedwig, Hugh & Michael Cera: 12 Powerhouse Theater Performances of 2014 | Janice Kaplan | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe 2014 midterm elections are just months behind us, but already Flake feels the pressure of the 2016 presidential elections.
Can This Republican Bring the GOP Back to Its Senses on Immigration? | Tim Mak | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBut in a television landscape still so afraid of showing kids that LGBT people exist, it still feels like a missed opportunity.
Yep, Korra and Asami Went in the Spirit Portal and Probably Kissed | Melissa Leon | December 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But I doubt if he feels any particular emotion himself, when he is piercing you through with his rendering.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayI suppose he is sick of the sound of them, or perhaps it is because he feels obliged to be conscientious in teaching Beethoven!
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayMy head feels quite lame from so much practicing, the consequence, I suppose, of so much listening.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy FayShe is always in fear of an earthquake, and feels safer to have a light burning in readiness all night long.
Alila, Our Little Philippine Cousin | Mary Hazelton WadeThese however are terms far too feeble to express the affection towards it, which the believer feels.
The Ordinance of Covenanting | John Cunningham
British Dictionary definitions for feel
/ (fiːl) /
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 given: I 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
the act or an instance of feeling, esp by touching
the quality of or an impression from something perceived through feeling: the house has a homely feel about it
the sense of touch: the fabric is rough to the feel
an instinctive aptitude; knack: she's got a feel for this sort of work
Origin of feel
1Collins 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
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.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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